Chapter 5
独妙
Unique Excellence
315
of 659
Page 315

English Translation

The "Yue Ti Geng" teapot is a collaborative masterpiece between Gu Jingzhou and Han Meilin, incorporating modern aesthetic concepts into its design. The lines are simple and clean, with a body shaped like a flattened drum. The inverted trapezoidal handle increases the width of the upper portion, making the overall proportions harmonious and balanced, with a coordinated rhythm of solid and void spaces. The elegantly crafted handle rises gracefully into the air, alternating between solid and void with the body. The lines are both flowing and serene, with concentrated strength. The handle's proportions are exaggerated, yet the lines possess both grace and tranquility, with a dignified weight. The entire piece is meticulously crafted, embodying delicacy within robustness, with a fresh style and distinctive charm. The contours are dignified and rigorous, achieving both formal coherence and practical functionality. Viewing this teapot from afar brings a pleasing effect to the eye and spirit, broadening the heart. Using such a teapot with clearly defined flowing lines to brew tea, even the poured tea and surrounding air seem to make the drinker feel as refreshed as a spring breeze. From the perspective of traditional Yixing clay forming methods and the characteristics of the clay material, this design with its strong modern sensibility presents extremely high difficulty in forming, particularly the inverted trapezoidal handle. During production, especially in the firing process, it is extremely prone to warping and deformation. Due to the handle's height and span both exceeding the body, Gu Jingzhou intentionally increased the thickness of the clay strip for the handle. To coordinate with the body's proportions while preventing the thickened clay strip from appearing heavy, Gu Jingzhou thinned the thickness on both sides of the clay strip. Viewing the handle's cross-section, it appears thick in the middle and thin on the sides. This treatment method not only ensures the handle's strength but also reduces the visual thickness of the handle, making the overall proportions of the teapot body coordinated with a unique spirit and rhythm. In 1987, Han Meilin inscribed the four seal script characters "Zi You Le Chu" (Finding Joy Within), and there are three versions with different calligraphic styles. In 1989, Gu Jingzhou created this teapot again and inscribed it himself: "Not round yet round, not square yet square, wisdom desires its roundness, action desires its squareness."