In the fast-paced urban life, it is no longer rare for young people to keep cats and dogs - sharing pictures of cats on WeChat Moments and following dogs in short videos seem to have become the spiritual comfort of this generation. However, if you have the chance to step into the tea table of an old tea connoisseur, you may notice an interesting sight: beside the purple clay teapot, there squats a little golden toad, shiny from being watered with tea; next to the gongdao cup, there lies a ceramic turtle spitting bubbles. They don't eat food or tear up the house, yet they enjoy the VIP treatment of a daily "tea bath". As the name implies, tea pets are pets nourished by tea, and are items to play with while enjoying tea. Most of them are ceramic handicrafts fired from purple clay or fine mud, and there are also some small porcelain or stone trinkets. Don't underestimate these small items, as the knowledge of materials, symbolic meanings of shapes, and maintenance methods behind them are anything but simple.
Material Chapter: The Art of Five-Color Earth and Fire
Tea pets come in a variety of materials, and different clay materials determine the "character" of tea pets and the effects achieved through maintenance.
1. Purple Clay Tea Pets: The Most Common "Star Performer"
Zisha, due to its unique dual-pore structure, easily absorbs tea aroma and forms a patina. As the usage time increases, its surface will gradually become smooth and shiny. It is relatively easy to develop color during the nurturing process, making it the most common and easiest-to-care-for material among tea pets, suitable for long-term nurturing and handling. Similar to Zisha teapots, Zisha tea pets need to be nourished with tea water. After years of soaking, they become smooth and round, as if endowed with life. Common Zisha tea pets include figures, Buddha statues, and various small animals.
2. Chenni Tea Pet: Sediment of the Yellow River Water
The Chengni tea pet is made from refined river mud, where "Cheng" refers to processed Yellow River sediment, rather than directly sourced river mud. The tea pet fired from Chengni has a delicate texture and is also suitable for nourishment with tea. However, Chengni is mainly used for making inkstones.
3. Porcelain Tea Pets: The Charm of Crackled Glaze
Porcelain tea pets are generally made of materials such as Ru kiln porcelain and celadon, which are prone to crackle . As they are nourished by tea, fine crackle patterns will gradually form on the porcelain surface, resembling the rings of a tree, adding a unique charm.
4. Stone tea pets: texture as smooth as jade
Tea pets made of stone materials such as Shoushan stone have a moist texture and rich luster. However, special attention must be paid when caring for stone tea pets, avoiding high temperatures, dryness, and direct sunlight, and always keeping them moist. Usually, gently wiping them with a soft silk cloth is sufficient.
5. Coarse pottery tea pet: old and rustic tactile feel
Coarse pottery tea pets refer to tea pets made from coarse pottery. Coarse pottery is pottery fired from clay with relatively high sand and iron content. When you're used to seeing all kinds of glazes, touching a coarse pottery tea pet, with its weathered appearance and rustic feel, for a moment, you seem to be transported back to the era of clashing swords and galloping horses.
6. Resin Tea Pets: The Intriguing "Chameleon" (Proceed with Caution)
There is also a type of resin-based tea pet on the market called "color-changing tea pet". Color-changing tea pets are tea set ornaments with resin as the base material or surface-coated with thermochromic materials, belonging to thermochromic process products. They trigger color changes through temperature variations, showing colors such as red, blue, and green after being poured with hot tea (the effect is significant above 45°C), and revert to their original state after cooling. It should be noted that the thermochromic material on its surface may react when exposed to high temperatures, so it is not recommended to drink the tea water that has been poured over the color-changing tea pet.
二. Modeling Chapter: Auspicious Meanings within a Small Space
The shapes of tea pets are extremely diverse, including figures, animals, plants, utensils... It can be said that everything commonly seen in daily life can be used as inspiration. Most of these shapes carry auspicious connotations from traditional Chinese culture.
1. Fortune and Prosperity Category: Expectations of Abundant Wealth
(1) Pixiu
Legend has it that Pixiu is the ninth son of the dragon, with only a mouth and no , commonly known as "taking in but not giving out". Therefore, it is regarded as an auspicious beast that attracts and accumulates wealth, and also symbolizes protecting the home. In ancient times, Pixiu was divided into one-horned (Tianlu) and two-horned (Bixie), but nowadays, the one-horned form is more prevalent.
(2) Golden Toad
The golden toad is also an auspicious animal that brings wealth, with its most prominent feature being having only three legs . Legend has it that it was originally a goblin, but was later subdued by the immortal Liu Hai and reformed, spitting out money everywhere to help the poor. The golden toad is usually depicted with a copper coin in its mouth, and this coin can be rotated. Turning the coin with one's hand, the homophone is "making money".
2. Auspiciousness and Good Fortune: Blessings for Peace and Smoothness
(1) Pu Lao
In ancient myths and legends, the dragon gave birth to nine sons, each with its own preferences. Pulao, the fourth in rank, is naturally fond of roaring and good at making loud noises. It often perches on the large of great bells, its voice resounding throughout the universe. It is an auspicious beast that wards off evil and demonstrates majesty. Placing a Pulao tea pet at home symbolizes widespread fame.
(2) Elephant
Elephants are good at absorbing water, and in traditional culture, water represents wealth . Therefore, elephants symbolize attracting and accumulating wealth. At the same time, elephants are gentle and peaceful in nature, and placing them at home also symbolizes good luck and fortune.
(3) Qilin
The Qilin is a legendary "benevolent beast" with a gentle nature, not harming humans or livestock and not trampling on flowers and plants. It represents kindness and good fortune, and there is also the saying of "Qilin bringing a son", symbolizing the prosperity of the family.
(4) Scarab
The greatest characteristic of turtles is their longevity, so they carry the beautiful connotation of "immortality". Meanwhile, the pronunciation of "turtle" in Chinese is homophonous with "return", also symbolizing reunion and happiness.
3. Religious Figures: Zen and Compassion
(1) Maitreya Buddha
The image of Maitreya Buddha is usually bare-chested and potbellied, with a beaming smile, symbolizing “ a big belly that can tolerate what is hard to tolerate in the world; an open mouth that laughs at those who are laughable in the world ”. It reminds people to learn to be tolerant, for great tolerance brings great fortune.
(2) Other Characters
There are also character figurines such as Damo, Guanyin, the God of Longevity, and child attendants, each with its own beautiful meaning, either for praying for blessings, longevity, or offspring.
4. Homophonic Humor: The Magic of Chinese Characters
The Chinese "homophone pun" is fully demonstrated on tea pets: a horse carrying a bag of money on its back is called "get rich right away" ; a horse carrying a monkey on its back is called "be immediately promoted to nobility" ; a cabbage-shaped one takes the meaning of "hundreds of wealth" ; a fish-shaped one takes the meaning of "abundance".
5. Fun Category: Tea Pets That "Move"
In addition to static viewing, some tea pets also have "interactive" functions, adding a lot of fun to the tea-tasting process. The most common one is the water-spraying tea pet , mostly in the shape of a child. Its principle is to utilize a hollow structure: usually soak the tea pet in water, and the water slowly flows into its "belly"; when hot tea is poured over it, the air inside the belly expands due to heat, causing the water to spurt out from the opening, looking just like the tea pet is "peeing", which is quite amusing. There is another type of tea pet that bubbles . After pouring hot water on it, fine bubbles will emerge on the surface, as if it has come to life.
三. Care Chapter: The Key to Pet Care Lies in Dedication
The reason why tea pets are called "pets" is precisely because they need to be "nurtured" with care. Through years of nourishment by tea and the caresses of their owners, tea pets will gradually become gentle and charming, as if they have come to life.
1. What kind of tea should be chosen for cultivation?
Using fermented teas like oolong and Pu-erh to care for tea pets is most likely to yield results. Generally, changes can be seen in one to two months, and a smooth patina can be developed in about half a year. Green tea is relatively slower. If possible, it is best to use one type of tea to care for a tea pet, so that the color of the tea pet will be relatively pure and will not become mottled due to contact with different types of tea.
2. How to raise?
Daily maintenance only requires, while drinking tea, using tea water to water, or dipping a tea pet brush in tea water and gently brushing it on the tea pet. After each tea session, it is best to rinse with clean water and then wipe dry with a tea cloth. Never "soak and maintain" with leftover tea. Although soaking and maintaining yields quick results, the luster produced is unnatural and easily distinguishable by discerning eyes. Also avoid leaving tea soup on the surface of the tea pet for an extended period, otherwise, over time, it will accumulate tea scale and affect its appearance.
3. Should we brush?
Yes. Use a soft brush daily or regularly to gently clean the tea pet, which not only keeps it clean but also makes the patina more uniform.
Conclusion
Although small, tea pets contain a vast world within. They are not only decorations on the tea table but also projections of the tea lover's state of mind. Some raise golden toads in the hope of a steady stream of wealth, some raise "contentment" to remind themselves to be always happy, some raise the Laughing Buddha to seek an open mind, and some seek nothing at all, simply enjoying the sense of companionship that comes from nourishing it with tea water day after day and watching it change little by little. What kind of tea pet do you keep on your tea table? Welcome to share your "cute pet" in the comments!
Related FAQ
A: It is recommended to start with classic shapes made of purple clay. Purple clay is the easiest to maintain, produces results quickly, and can give you a great sense of accomplishment. In terms of shape, the golden toad and pixiu symbolize attracting wealth, while the Maitreya Buddha symbolizes tolerance. Just choose one that looks pleasing to the eye and has a meaning you like. The key is - personal preference is the most important.
A: Tea pets do not physically grow, but they will "develop their state" through the nourishment of tea soup - a gentle patina gradually forms on the surface, the color deepens, the luster brightens, and when held in the hand, it feels smooth and waxy, as if it has come to life. As for "watering", simply pour some tea on it casually while drinking tea; there is no need to be deliberate.
A: It is recommended to use one type of tea to cultivate one pet. Mixed cultivation tends to make the color become mottled, like a "calico cat". Fermented teas such as oolong and Pu-erh produce results the fastest, while green tea is a bit slower. If you want to cultivate it beautifully, it's best to be more dedicated.
A: Dip a soft toothbrush in a small amount of toothpaste, gently scrub the areas where tea stains have accumulated, then rinse with clean water and dry. Avoid using chemical detergents such as dish soap, as they will damage the patina. For daily maintenance, simply wipe it dry immediately after it gets wet, and tea stains will not easily accumulate.
A: They are generally placed in the corner of the tea tray, not occupying the main position but within easy reach. For wealth-attracting tea pets like the golden toad and pixiu, it is emphasized that "the head should face inward" (towards the host), symbolizing that wealth does not flow out. For Buddha statue tea pets, it is recommended to choose a smaller Maitreya Buddha as the tea pet, and the face of the Maitreya Buddha should face away from the host and towards the guests.
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