Hand wash with warm water and liquid detergent as necessary.
Blue White
Hu Cheng Tray
SKU
6033
Yoshi En has recently grown out of Sunday Natural to become an independent premium tea store. As part of this transition, some products may still be shipped in Sunday Natural packaging.
Pale blue porcelain tea tray adorned with poetic Chinese calligraphy, handcrafted in Jingdezhen, the legendary "porcelain capital" of China. This Hu Cheng is decorated in the classic blue and white Qinghua style and is used to support a teapot or Gaiwan, as well as cups or teatime treats.
| Product | Hu Cheng tea tray |
| Origin | Jingdezhen, Jiangxi, China |
| Dimensions | Ø14cm x 2.8cm |
| Weight | 630g |
| Material | Porcelain |
| Decoration | 采菊東籬下，悠然見南山。
While picking asters 'neath the eastern fence, |
In stock
Producer
The birthplace of porcelain, Jingdezhen has been producing the finest Chinese ceramics for over a thousand years and was home to some of China’s most important imperial kilns. Surrounded by breathtaking nature in the northeastern corner of Jiangxi province, the remoteness of the small city has helped preserve age-old traditions that are still in practice to this day. When Europeans first encountered Chinese porcelain back in the 14th century, they concluded that this ethereal yet solid "white gold" could only have been made by magic. The secret? Kaolin: the soft white clay essential to manufacturing porcelain, named after the Gaoling mountain in Jingdezhen where this resource was available in abundance.
Hu Cheng 壶承
The Hu Cheng "teapot stand" is a small tray used to support and display teapots or Gaiwan. Typically made of ceramic, their primary function is to contain any spills and prevent tea stains. They may be shaped like a bowl or plate, while some consist of two layers with a concealed drainage compartment. Hu Cheng can be used in lieu of a Gongfu tea tray, however being considerably smaller in size, they are ideal for Gan Pao, or dry pouring, as opposed to wet brewing where a larger draining tray comes in handy to collect the greater quantities of discarded water and rinsed tea.
Qinghua 青花
Probably the most recognised and enduring of ceramic styles, blue and white pottery, known as Qinghua in Chinese (literally "blue flowers/patterns") was a revolutionary product in 14th century Jingdezhen. Traces of blue and white wares can be found as far back as the Tang dynasty (618-907) but it wasn’t until the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368) that potters in Jingdezhen perfected the clay and firing technology, which allowed for the mass production of quality Qinghua. The key ingredient in the vibrant blue hue is cobalt oxide: one of the very few pigments that can withstand the high firing temperatures of porcelain. This remarkably stable pigment was initially imported from Persia and is applied under the glaze before baking. Although blue and white wares came to be produced elsewhere in China — and around the world! — those from Jingdezhen are prized for their unmatched craftsmanship.
