Chapter 5
独妙
Unique Excellence
298
of 659
Page 298

English Translation

Zheng's witty and contemplative verse not only captures the characteristics of the teapot, but also alludes to the philosophy of life. Gu Jingzhou's design of the "Banqiao Tiliang" teapot closely follows the poetic imagery of Banqiao in both form and decoration. In terms of form, the body is round and bulging, with a straight spout. The high handle extends outward, with a bamboo lifting beam that is easy to grasp. On the front is painted Zheng Banqiao's ink bamboo painting—the drooping bamboo branches alternate between dark and light tones, swaying in the gentle breeze with a rustling sound. The teapot's design perfectly matches the poetry and painting, with inscriptions that are vigorous and powerful, displaying extraordinary bearing. This teapot exists in two forms: one with a purple clay three-hole bridge knob, and one with a duan clay twisted rope knob.