Over five thousand years of history, the Chinese people have developed a rich and diversified culture of creation. Travelling through time and space, the cultural handicrafts have accumulated time-honored memories, inherited people's pursuit and wisdom of life, nourished and sustained the beauty of life for generations with tangible existence. Among them, Chaozhou hand-pulled clay teapot containing centuries of tea culture has flourished through innovation, thus becoming a unique cultural label of Chaozhou, which is welcomed by the general public.
As a Chinese poem reads, simplicity and innovation are both essential elements in creating, with which the artwork is like a flower in early spring, leading the full blossom in the whole garden. Innovation is the soul of artistic creation and the driving force behind the revitalization of traditional handicrafts. When I met Mr Lin Chaoming, a master of arts and crafts for the first time, he was on the Guangji Bridge in Chaozhou, introducing his inlaid copper teapots - "Hand in Hand" to visitors. The inlaid copper teapots are made by Master Lin's unique technique, in which the copper pieces are drawn into thin curved wires. The wires will be woven and inlaid on the teapot body. The integration of copper and clay adds delicacy and simplicity to the teapot.
Chaozhou is an ancient cultural city where people enjoy drinking tea. It is a local practice to drink kungfu tea when using and appreciating teapots. However, the spout, handle, knob, or even the body of the collected teapot can be easily damaged. Fortunately, the copper inlay process can be adopted by Master Lin to make the unique copper inlay teapot and repair an accidentally cracked teapot by piecing together to restore the original shape of the teapot. Master Lin then blends copper pieces with the teapot through welding, grinding, and polishing, after which the "broken teapot" can be born anew.
The innovation of pot-making crafts has given hand-pulled teapots more unique expressions. Traditional hand-pulled teapots are mostly made on a potter's wheel and generally round shapes. However, Master Lin took a different approach and made all his teapots by hand. In the Chaozhou Residence Museum, we had the honour to witness the whole process of Master Lin's hand-made, stump-shaped teapot. Master Lin first kneaded the body, the spout, and the teapot handle with a clay block. After drying, the surface of every part was then polished. Next, the teapot spout was opened, and both the spout and the handle were installed to create a pot with a complete structure. Master Lin then used a knife to carve out the bark texture on the teapot body, pinching out some "tree branches" clinging to the handle and the knob. After that, a stump-shaped teapot appeared before us. Making teapots requires inspiration, but sticking to traditional geometry will impede the innovations in shapes. Each hand-made teapot has its characteristics, and during the process of hand-making, it's convenient for artisans to capture their instant inspiration.
Today, Master Lin, who is in his 50s, has made teapots for two decades. With the refinement of his skills, his teapots have become increasingly popular, as evidenced by winning many national awards and being collected in the National Museum of China. As an old Chinese saying goes, if you can improve yourself in a day, do so each day, forever building on improvement. Seeking innovation and change is of great importance in artistic creation. The flowers, birds, insects, fish, and the joy and sorrow of life can all become the source of inspiration for Master Lin. Integrating nature and customs into teapot making shows the craftsmen's love for life and their way to perceive the world. Moreover, it reflects people's pursuit of beauty and harmony.
Author: ZENG Lufang from the MBA Center of the Guangdong University of Foreign Studies
Editor: Nan, Jerry
