Collection: Tea Tray | Pot Stand

Tea Tray and Pot Stand: The Silent Guardians of Chinese Tea Ceremony

A Legacy of Oriental Tea Aesthetics

The tea tray (chapan) and pot stand (hucheng) are the unspoken "foundations" of a Chinese tea ceremony, with origins tracing back to Tang and Song dynasty tea culture. During the Tang era, tea platforms were used to organize utensils, while the Song dynasty favored elevated stands for jianzhan teacups. By the Ming and Qing dynasties, as Yixing teapots gained prominence, the pot stand evolved into a distinct accessory—humbly supporting the teapot’s artistry. Craftsmen adhere to ancient techniques, shaping them from porcelain, clay, bamboo, or stone. Their forms may mimic the full moon (round) or a scholar’s inkstone (square), with subtle recesses to contain spills, embodying the harmony of "Heaven’s roundness and Earth’s squareness" (Tianyuan Difang).

Pot Stand (Hucheng): The Teapot’s Silent Partner

The pot stand is a teapot’s "perfect match." Its ingenuity lies in:

l   Water Management: A slightly concave surface catches drips, preserving the tea table’s elegance. For Yixing clay teapots, a shallow pool of warm water nurtures the pot’s patina while maintaining brewing heat.

l   Minimalist Grandeur: A rustic clay stand highlights an unglazed teapot’s texture; a celadon-glazed stand with crackle patterns mirrors landscapes in miniature. Less becomes more.

Tea Tray (Chapan): The Stage for Tea’s Flow

The tea tray acts as "a realm for tea liquor," balancing function and artistry:

l   Dry Brewing (Ganpao): Bamboo or wood trays, with natural grain, absorb moisture for clean wipe-downs—ideal for modern, clutter-free sessions.

l   Wet Brewing (Shi’pao): Slate or pewter trays feature discreet drainage channels, guiding runoff like mountain streams—perfect for bold, poured rinses of aged tea.

l   Portable Wisdom: Foldable trays echo ancient travel tea chests, allowing a sip of serenity anywhere.

Where Utility Meets Philosophy

Ancient artisans prioritized "function before beauty":

l   Material Wisdom:

l   Clay absorbs excess heat for fermented teas.

l   Pewter conducts warmth to preheat cups.

l   Black stone resists scratches, grounding the setup.

l   Ergonomic Nuances:

l   Tray edges slope gently for silent water flow.

l   Stands stay under 3cm for effortless pouring.

In these tools, centuries of ritual meet today’s practicality.

Between tray and stand flows the history of tea—a testament to the artisan’s creed: "The vessel carries the Dao."