## Lesson 12, February 13, 1982 ### Theoretical Knowledge of Creation: Zisha (purple clay) craft products are a type of practical decorative art product. So-called practical decorative art products refer to products with artistic merit that serve both as practical items and as decorative pieces. This requires that our products be beautiful. Below, let us first understand the meanings and distinctions of several terms: **Fine Arts (美术)** — "美" means beautiful or pleasing to the eye, "术" means to make or create. **Craft (工艺)** — "工" means workmanship or craftsmanship, "艺" means art. **Daily Use (日用)** — refers to things used in daily life. **Practical (实用)** — refers to actual application and use. This term is relatively broad in meaning, but also has certain one-sidedness and narrowness. (If we emphasize practicality alone in our teapots, they will appear monotonous and uniform, becoming utilitarian.) **Suitable/Appropriate (适用)** — compared with "practical," this appears more flexible. (It is precisely because our products conform to suitability that they can achieve myriad forms and postures.) Practical decorative art products cannot pursue beauty for beauty's sake alone, but should be decorative for life, suitable for life, and moreover, conveniently and practically beautiful. Because our products serve life, this requires us to combine beauty and practicality into one. The artistry of practical decorative arts lies first in the fact that the external form of the craft product can clearly indicate its purpose and manufacturing technique, rather than simply imitating other things or adopting styles unsuitable to it. Therefore, before making a product, we must: (1) consider its purpose; (2) consider its raw materials;