ZHAO Lantao, ZHANG Wenqian
(Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute, Jingdezhen 333403, Jiangxi, China)

Abstract: Since the formation of tea-drinking habit among people, tea vessels have been evolved over the time from tea bowls to teabowls with holders to teabowls with holders and covers which were introduced in Ming Dynasty but are still popular in use nowadays. The evolution of tea vessels in forms, functions and content has obviously much to do with the tea culture of the time, the drinking modes and habits, the officially defined ceramic vessel shapes and aesthetics. The changes in the designs of tea bowl holders and tea bowls with covers are manoriented,use-based and function-related. They embody the harmony between man and nature and the integration of heaven, earth and man which are the essence of Chinese traditional culture. This paper takes an insight into the design evolution of teabowl holders and teabowls with covers from the perspectives of their forms, functions and content.

Key words:  tea bowl holder; tea bowl with cover; design