![Left photo: Old storefront of Shanghai Tiehuaxuan (from left: first is Dai Guren, second is Gong; after public-private partnership, Tiehuaxuan manager Chen Zheng'an, fourth from left is Dai Zuomin)] ![Right photo: October 1953, Gu Jingzhou and Dai Xiangming photographed together at Gangsang Cave (now Zhanggong Cave) in front of the Ganquan Stele] In March, the 37-year-old Gu Jingzhou, at the earnest invitation of his longtime friend Xu Zuchun, accepted Xu's third son, Xu Handang, as his disciple. From that moment, Xu Handang became Gu Jingzhou's first formal apprentice. Under his master's strict requirements and devoted instruction, he adhered to the principles with unwavering constancy. Through his own diligence and effort, shouldering this mission, he eventually achieved success, becoming a distinguished leader of his generation in today's flourishing Yixing purple clay pottery world. At the end of 1954, Gu Jingzhou actively participated in the establishment of the Tangdu Pottery Production Cooperative's purple clay production workshop and the later Dingshu Purple Clay Craft Cooperative. Regarding this period, Gu Jingzhou recalled: > In the early days after Liberation, the Party and local government, in order to rescue the purple clay craft from near extinction, initially organized purple clay production into cooperatives. In October 1954, I actively participated in the formation of the Purple Clay Production Cooperative, mobilizing the mere thirty-some remaining colleagues to join the cooperative organization. Starting from three low, dilapidated old rooms and a single large scale, I participated in steering this vessel that is Yixing purple clay.[1] At that time, the purple clay cooperative was just a small boat; now it has become a giant ship. On this vessel, I have held the pole... --- [1] Gu Jingzhou: *Work Summary*, Purple Clay Craft Factory archival materials, October 1988