Zisha Teapot is a type of ceramic product that is between pottery and porcelain. Its features include a dense structure that is close to porcelain-like, high strength, and fine particles. Zisha clay can be divided into five main types: Zi Ni, Duan Ni, Lv Ni, Hong Ni, and Jiangpo Ni. Because Zisha is made from clay in various colors, it is commonly referred to as "Five-Color Soil" or "Fortune Soil" in the local community, symbolizing good fortune.

Today, we will introduce the most representative type, [ Zi Ni ]:

Zi Ni is primarily found in the Huanglong Mountain mining area in Yixing. Its reserves account for approximately 70-80% of all Zisha clay types. The mineral layers are thin, often lens-shaped, and typically range in thickness from several centimeters to around one meter. The raw material is purple or reddish-purple in color and may have light green spots. After firing, it turns purple, dark brown, or dark reddish-purple. When fired at high temperatures, it may take on deep purple, dark liver purple, or dark liver red hues. The main component of Zi Ni is muscovite, and it also contains varying amounts of kaolin, quartz, mica flakes, and iron. It is the primary raw material for making Zisha Teapots. Because it is abundant, highly malleable, and easy to handle during the crafting process, it is a favorite material for both historical Zisha artisans and modern potters. Moreover, it has a wide firing temperature range and relatively high yield, which makes it an ideal material.

1. Firing temperature: approximately 1180°C.
2. Shrinkage ratio: about 11%.
3. Clay property: Stable with good control; dense and compact, it is suitable for making large sculptures. It is easy to form and is favored by artisans.
4. Difficulty: Can experience oxidation of iron, sand jumping, and clay blemishes.
5. Characteristics: The color is mature and stable, giving a sense of dignity and solemnity. It is suitable for works of any size and presents a purple-brown tone. It has a calming effect and a strong affinity.
6. Recommended tea types: Lightly roasted oolong tea, all series of Pu'er tea, etc.

Although Zi Ni is just one of the many types of Zisha clay, it is the first choice for nearly all Zisha artisans. The purple hues of Zi Ni represent the main color of the "Five-Color Soil," making it the most representative type among the many colors of Zisha clay. In the past, the naming of Zi Ni was passed down by miners, who would give different names to different zones, mining holes, or strata from which the clay was extracted.
The main types of Zi Ni are as follows:

1. Ordinary Zi Ni from the surface and middle layers is called Zi Ni.
2. Zi Ni in the bottom layer is called Dicaoqing Ni (rare).
3. Zi Ni with red undertones is called Hongpilong Ni .
4. Zi Ni with a grayish purple-brown color is called (Qinghui )Zi Ni (rare).
5. A rare sky-blue clay found in an occasional middle layer is called Tianqing Ni (extinct and only preserved in museums).

The development of Zi Ni began in the 1950s in Huanglong Mountain, where the state-run Yixing Ceramic Company’s Raw Material Factory opened five main mining holes, referred to as Hole No. 1, Hole No. 2, Hole No. 3, Hole No. 4, and Hole No. 5. Additionally, there were mining holes dug by local villagers in Taixi Village. Zi Ni has been found deep underground in Huanglong Mountain, from 30 meters to several hundred meters below ground level. The deeper the layers, the better the quality of the Zi Ni. At a depth of several hundred meters in Hole No. 4, the most premium Zi Ni is found, known as Dicaoqing Ni. This clay is regarded as the finest among Zi Ni types because the deeper it is extracted, the more compressed it becomes due to the pressure from the rock layers above. This results in a denser and heavier clay that can withstand higher firing temperatures.
The mining area in Taixi Village, located to the north of Huanglong Mountain, has the largest reserves of Hongpilong and Zi Ni, with Dicaoqing Ni found here being slightly lower in quality than that from Hole No. 4. We generally refer to this as Taixi Dicaoqing Ni.

From the early Ming Dynasty until the beginning of the 20th century, Zi Ni-made Zisha Teapots were the most common type found among all the surviving Zisha works. This reflects people's preference for the purple color, which is dignified and elegant, best expressing the ancient charm of Zisha's "purple jade and golden sand."

Moreover, Zi Ni has superior functionality and artistic expressiveness. Unlike Duan Ni and Hong Ni, which have some limitations in artistic expression, Zi Ni has the best properties for creating a variety of forms. It has excellent plasticity, hardness, flexibility, sandiness, and malleability, making it the preferred material for potters and collectors alike for centuries.

Additionally, Zi Ni is also the ideal material for single-source mineral clay products. For example, the clay known as Qing Shui Ni is actually a general term for various Zi Ni minerals. Most Zi Ni is characterized by a reddish-purple hue. When fired at temperatures above 1200°C, it turns a natural purple color. Zi Ni that can withstand firing temperatures above 1200°C is referred to as high-temperature Zi Ni. If fired at temperatures below 1200°C, it will only turn a reddish-brown color, which is what is commonly known as Qingshui Ni.

Currently, there is a wide mix of Zi Ni clay names in the market. Some clay materials are blended with chemical dyes, sand, and other substances to enhance color, which makes it difficult for collectors to distinguish genuine Zisha clay from finished teapots, potentially affecting health. Currently, we only provide Zi Ni and Dicaoqing Ni clay materials, ensuring their quality.

Detailed introductions to [ Dicaoqing Ni ] here.