Xiaoying Zisha Teapot | Zi Ni | 200-300ml

The design of the "Xiaoying Teapot" is inspired by the historical tale of "Ying Ning's Smile," which is said to "resolve a thousand worries with a single smile."

Who was Ying Ning? Ying Ning is a character from the late Ming and early Qing dynasty, featured in the famous work Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio (聊斋志异) by Pu Songling. She was known for her love of flowers and her smile, which was said to be as mysterious and enchanting as the Mona Lisa smile painted by Leonardo da Vinci—pure, genuine, and captivating, like a riddle that intrigued future readers.

The book describes how "Ying Ning's smile resolves a thousand worries." This smile not only marked the beginning of a wondrous fate but also inspired the creation of the timeless "Xiaoying Teapot."

The Xiaoying Teapot has a rounded, full-bodied shape that retains an elegant charm. The teapot gradually narrows from top to bottom, with a circle-foot base that adds to its sense of stability. The teapot's knob is crafted into a flower bud, small and delicate. The lid is domed and fits tightly with the teapot, with a smooth, harmonious curve. The shoulder line is clean and sleek, presenting a strong and graceful profile. The spout, designed in a graceful triple bend, resembles a bird in flight, enhancing the teapot's dynamic aesthetic while ensuring an excellent pour. The handle is a flying design, its upward curve evoking a sense of upward motion.

The Xiaoying Teapot's beauty lies in its natural, flowing curves. The lines, smooth and continuous throughout the body, handle, spout, shoulder, lid, and knob, create a seamless, harmonious shape. The flowing lines resemble the beauty of high mountains and flowing rivers, giving a refreshing sense of satisfaction. The teapot exemplifies the art of curved design, demonstrating the power of lines and creating a sense of rhythm and beauty.

The teapot's interplay of solid and void spaces, as well as its balance of movement and stillness, produces a striking visual impact. The unity of points, lines, and surfaces, without excessive decoration, creates a design that embodies "motion within stillness, stillness within motion," making the teapot highly dynamic and balanced in its strength and beauty. This reflects the "Xiaoying Teapot" as a piece that is both elegant and filled with vitality, possessing an enduring and intrinsic charm.

The "Xiaoying Teapot" is truly a reflection of the purity of design, without the need for intricate embellishments—like "lotus flowers emerging from clear water, untouched by carvings," capturing both elegance and inner strength.