Special Exhibition
Yixing Teapots: The Study Room Teapots Loved by Intellectuals

The Yixing kilns in the Chinese province of Jiangsu have been producing teapots for the past 500 years. Using homogeneous fine soil known as "purple clay," the types of teapot (the small chacho, and chachu), and the little chako tea urns fired with sophisticated techniques, are harder than ceramic vessels, keep the tea hot and are essential for bringing out the taste of highest quality choice teas. Above all, their elegant beauty led them to be treasured as a vital item in the study rooms of literary figures and intellectuals from the Ming and Qing dynasty onwards, and similar figures in Japan have coveted these teapots since the Edo era.

As a part of a satellite plan of the "Tea Served in a Kyusu -Yixing & Tokoname, Sweet Aroma & Flavor" exhibition that is currently being held ( till September 25 ) at INAX MUSUEMS in Aichi prefecture's Tokoname City, it has been decided to display some of the Yixing ware that spread to Japan during the late Edo era, including works by the late Qing dynasty master potter Kin Shiko who gave his guidance to some Tokoname ware. It is very much hoped that visitors will come and experience the beauty of the Yixing teapots that were the delight of literary figures and intellectuals. Please enjoy the world of the recreation of tea served in the study room.

Ikki TSUKUDA (Head of the Issa-an)