Chinese Tea Bowls

Chinese tea bowls became widespread in use during the Song Dynasty. Back then, tea bowls were made nearly everywhere. There were two kinds - fine tea bowls for the noble people, aristocrats, scholars, etc; and tea bowls made for the common people - which were made rather coarsely; though they still had their own charm.

Pictured here are two tea bowls reminiscent of Song-era tea bowls. The shapes are quite distinct. And the texture of the clay, the apparent skill with which they are made is also interesting. Much like in Chanoyu, the Japanese tea ceremony, Song-style tea used powdered green tea; which would be whisked in a bowl, and drunk straight from the bowl. Although, this style of tea died out in China by the Yuan dynasty.