## Four In collaboration with experts and professors from the History Department of Nanjing University and the Nanjing Museum, he visited ancient kiln sites in the Yixing region to conduct excavation research. In 1976, when the Yixing Hongqi Pottery Factory was conducting construction work at Yangjiao Mountain in Dingshu Town, an ancient kiln site was discovered. Gu Jingzhou conducted careful and meticulous investigations of this kiln site on multiple occasions. These experiences allowed him to accumulate a wealth of firsthand materials on the historical evolution of Zisha pottery, biographies of famous artisans, and authentication of ancient pottery. Through systematic research and compilation, Gu Jingzhou successively published several important papers on Zisha pottery art, including *Suo Yi Shuo* (On the Pursuit of Art), *Hu Yi de Xing Shen Qi* (The Form, Spirit, and Essence of Teapot Art), *Yixing Zisha Huyi Gaiyao* (An Overview of Yixing Zisha Teapot Art), and *Jian Tan Zisha Taoyi Jianshang* (A Brief Discussion on the Appreciation of Zisha Pottery Art). These papers remain important references for our study of Zisha production techniques and artistic creation today. From accepting Xu Handang as his formal disciple to training students for the Zisha Craft Cooperative, Gu Jingzhou at this time, in addition to undertaking a large volume of technical and administrative work at the factory, found that taking on disciples and transmitting his art had become an important component of expanding his artistic talents and extending his artistic life. In 1958, Zhou Guizhen was accepted as his disciple during an apprenticeship ceremony; in 1964, he taught students Zhou Zunyan, Pan Chiping, Gu Shaopei, Xu Leping, Chen Fenlin, and Zhang Shulin the relevant techniques for making large flowerpots; in 1972, he accepted Wu Qunxiang as his disciple; after 1978, Ge Yinzhong, Xu Xu, Gao Zhenyu, Zhao Jianghua, and others successively studied under Gu Jingzhou; additionally, a large number of Zisha practitioners received help and guidance from Gu Jingzhou at different times and on different occasions. Under Gu Jingzhou's careful cultivation, through diligent and earnest study, most of these new generation Zisha artisans became the backbone forces of the contemporary Zisha art world. As a folk handicraft, Zisha pottery art is mostly transmitted through the traditional hand-to-hand, face-to-face master-to-apprentice inheritance. The master's style, technical habits, and skill level all influence the disciple's techniques, thoughts, and moral character. Gu Jingzhou believed: "In pursuing craft, 'gong' (工, skill) requires exceptional technique, and 'yi' (艺, art) requires transcendent realm." Gu Jingzhou engaged in technical guidance work at the Zisha Factory for a long period and enjoyed extremely high personal prestige. In everyone's minds, Gu Jingzhou was a person who kept his word, followed rules, and was upright and principled. In everything he did, he was clear-cut and would never compromise or yield. Therefore, Gu Jingzhou's character had a quality of independence and nonconformity. --- [1] Wuxi Radio and Television Station: *Zisha Master Gu Jingzhou* (CD), 2010.