Yixing Teapot shape Zhoupan
The Zhoupan Teapot is a classic form in purple clay (zisha) teapot design and ranks among the "Eighteen Mansheng Teapot Styles." It was designed by the Qing-dynasty literatus Chen Mansheng, with the shape modeled after a geomantic compass disc (luopan), and it embodies the philosophy that one should be "outwardly accommodating yet inwardly resolute, uniting the crooked and the straight — the true way of conducting oneself."
Core Features:
Form: The body is a flattened cylinder, featuring a flat lid, flat shoulders, and a flat base. The lid is fitted with a low, flattened knob. The body is upright, the spout is straight, and the handle is a simple loop. The base rests on three small nipple-shaped feet. The overall form is smooth and rounded, yet retains a reserved strength, perfectly fusing the curved with the straight. It possesses both the harmonious fluidity of the Taiji symbol and the dignified stability of an ancient ritual tripod.
Meaning: The teapot symbolizes tolerance, magnanimity, and the ability to bend or stand firm as circumstances require, always acting after measured deliberation. It fully embodies the philosophical principle of "be rounded and accommodating in personal relations, yet square and principled in conduct."
Inscription: The body of the pot frequently bears the inscription "吾爱吾鼎，强食强饮" ("I cherish my tripod; let me eat and drink to my heart's content"), expressing deep affection for the vessel and a sense of reflective self-cultivation.
Historical Origins:
While serving as magistrate of Liyang County, Chen Mansheng, during a session of nighttime reading, drew inspiration from a compass disc. Captivated by the ideal of "uniting the curved and the straight," he created the design for this pot, which was then brought to life by the master potter Yang Pengnian. The design is a seamless fusion of literati aesthetics and zisha craftsmanship, and it has since become a timeless masterwork of purple clay art. Later generations of zisha artisans have continued to interpret the form, producing variations such as the Plum Blossom Zhoupan (Meihua Zhoupan).
