Xi Shi Yixing Zisha Teapot | Premium Zhuni Clay | Senior Master Zhou Jianchun | 350cc

A Masterwork for Collectors & Connoisseurs

The Xi Shi (西施壶) by Senior Master Zhou Jianchun is more than a teapot — it is a cultural artifact. Graceful, timeless, and imbued with decades of artistic mastery, this 350cc piece represents the pinnacle of contemporary Yixing zisha art. A fitting gift for distinguished guests, a treasured heirloom for collectors.

The Master: Zhou Jianchun

• Artist: Zhou Jianchun (周建春) — Senior-Level Arts & Crafts Master (正高级工艺美术师)
• Born: 1963, Dingshu, Yixing, Jiangsu
• Lineage: Studied under celebrated painter Wu Guannan; personally mentored by Han Meilin; advanced studies at the Central Academy of Arts & Crafts, Beijing
• Innovation: Originator of the Wenren Gongchun and Yaobianr Gongchun techniques — integrating literati painting directly onto zisha form
• Recognition: Works permanently collected by Wuxi Museum and Jiangsu Provincial Arts & Crafts Museum; featured in authoritative art publications and CCTV special programs; active in high-end auction markets with consistently strong results

Premium Clay & Specifications

• Clay: Premium Raw Mine Zhuni (原矿优质朱泥) — rare high-iron Yixing clay prized for its vivid red firing color and exceptional density
• Capacity: 350cc — ideal for gongfu sessions for 2–4 people
• Construction: Fully handmade; no molds, no shortcuts
• Origin: Yixing, Jiangsu, China

The Clay Story

Zhuni is among the rarest of Yixing clays — high in iron, low in yield, and demanding in craft. It fires to a luminous vermilion-red that deepens and warms with every use, developing a rich baojian (包浆) patina that tells the story of the tea and the hands that held it. In Master Zhou's hands, this clay becomes a canvas as much as a vessel.

Best Teas for This Pot

Zhuni's dense, low-porosity body excels with light oolongs, high-mountain teas (gaoshan), and dancong, preserving delicate aromatics and delivering a clean, bright cup.

Care Instructions

• Season with hot water before first use
• Dedicate to one tea type for optimal flavor development
• Clean with hot water only — avoid soap
• Air dry completely before storing