Playing with Teapots can be very addictive, and there are many things that are hard to control.
Some teapot enthusiasts have told me that their teapots have taken over their study and even their children's rooms, with teapots on almost every flat surface. This can drive the rest of the family crazy.
Others ask me to send the teapots to their workplace on Monday instead of home, because their wives would scold them if they were delivered at home…
Although I don't always do enough myself, I still often remind my fellow enthusiasts to practice moderation. Many of you may have received my friendly reminder about not drinking too much, “Don't drink past three cups.” Some say, “You're just trying to convince us…you'd be happy if others bought more from you…” Honestly, that's not how I think. Playing with teapots in a healthy way is important. Purple Clay is enchanting, but one must also “act within one's means and know when to stop.” Not everyone has the ability to turn a teapot into money and then turn that money back into a teapot like I do.
Of course, once someone is addicted, they won't listen to advice. There are many reasons why people become addicted, which can be summarized into three main points:
—The Tea-suitability of teapots makes them “addictive.” Purple clay was born for tea, and this is beyond doubt. Discussing the pairing of teapots and tea is a science. What type of clay suits what kind of tea and what shape of teapot suits what kind of tea all have certain rules.
We have written related articles about this on our platform before. Those who are interested can revisit them… As a result, many friends can't remain calm. They want to try out different types of teapots, such as the Shi Piao with its quick Pouring, the ancient-style round teapot that allows the tea leaves to fully expand, the dense Zhu Ni teapot that helps bring out the aroma, and the Duan Ni teapot that softens and removes impurities from the tea.
—The changes in teapot conditioning make them “addictive.” Conditioning a teapot is also a great subject. We've written about it before and will continue to mention it in the future. With regular use and care, the body of the teapot gradually becomes smooth and begins to emit a subtle luster, which is a sign that the clay has been thoroughly conditioned.
The results of conditioning vary depending on the type of clay. The speed of conditioning also varies under different temperatures. These differences lead everyone to look forward to seeing how various clays from different sources will change after conditioning. It's best if one can obtain a teapot made from top-quality clay and condition it into a true treasure. The changes that occur during conditioning can be mesmerizing. For example, I recently acquired two teapots, one made from Duan Ni and the other from Red Clear Water. Both were excellent, but due to the long aging time of the clay, both had developed clay flowers, which resulted in uneven coloration. Is this a flaw? But it doesn't matter. After Steeping them in my tea room for two weeks, the clay flowers disappeared, and there was no noticeable difference in color. This is the result of the clay becoming uniformly colored under the nourishment of tea water at a temperature below 100 degrees Celsius. This transformation through conditioning is often greater than the firing at over a thousand degrees, which is truly amazing.
—The form of teapots makes them “addictive.” Teapots are a form of art, a conclusion I have discussed in many previous issues. If good clay is a basic need (similar to food and shelter), then good spirit and form are higher-level needs (similar to artistic pursuits).
The quality of teapots requires contemplation and an appreciation that grows with handling. A teapot that seems flawless today might seem lacking in spirit and vitality tomorrow, and ten years later, you might think it's worthless. In the pursuit of perfection, you may unknowingly go through many teapots, see many teapots, own many teapots, and give up many teapots. This “addiction” is hard to resist.
I have briefly outlined the three reasons for this “addiction.” Finally, I want to express one clear point: Teapots are something that should be cherished rather than over-collected. It's better to be selective than to buy many. I hope my teapots can meet your standards, and I also hope that playing with one of my teapots can be more beneficial than aimlessly collecting ten others.