Black pottery, Pu’er tea paired best in Zhenyuan county

Zhenyuan Yi, Hani and Lahu autonomous county, southwest Yunnan’s Pu’er city, is famous for its wild tea trees with more than 2,700 years’ history. Now, the Zhenyuan ancient black-pottery making skill has been listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage, making the county even more well-known.

The black pottery. (Photo by Yunnan Daily)

As one of the rarely existing folk arts in Zhenyuan with more than 400 years’ history, the black pottery is of special features. It is thin like a piece of paper with bright surface. When tapped on, the pottery vessels sound clear and melodious. The texture feels as hard as porcelain. It takes 2 months to make an exquisite pottery.

“The material of making black pottery should be chosen carefully,” said the municipal inheritor of black pottery making Xue Chuyin. “The soil which was selected by ants to build their nest is the best.” To make a great black pottery, it requires virtuosity and patience.

Before start, the soil should be soaked for 2 to 3 days. Then, it should go through many steps like size mixing and filtering. After being made into simple shapes on the throwing machine, the pottery should be dried without being exposed in wind or under the sun to prevent cracking. Finally, the shaped pottery should be carved and polished.

The clay is on the throwing machine. (Photo by Yunnan Daily)

“The key process of making pottery is firing,” said Xue. “Once the fire is not controlled properly, everything will be wasted.” It is easier to fire small pieces of pottery. More than 300 small pieces, or 160 large pieces of pottery can be produced at one time.

Xue’s mother Xu Shiju is the provincial inheritor of this skill. She puts Yi, Hani and Lahu elements into her work and has unique skills in carving and hollowing. Her masterpiece looks distinct and ancient.

Xue Chuyin shows his work. (Photo by Yunnan Daily)

Xue, the younger generation, has been thinking about making black pottery more useful. “Here in Pu’er, I think black pottery and Pu’er tea can be great ‘partners’,” said Xue.

Black tea pottery can keep the aroma of Pu’er tea and make its color more pleasant. In return, Pu’er tea can nourish the pottery so that it will be glossier.

“We should pass on the traditional skills and at the same time, add more modern elements and new skills to our masterpiece,” said Xue. “Then, this ancient skill can live longer and stay alive.”

Source: Yunnan daily; trans-editing by Wang Yunya