A Gaiwan is a type of lidded teapot used for brewing tea. The world of tea connoisseurs seems to be moving in the direction of using them, so I wanted to have a couple for the shop that I would be happy to use. It is an expensive consideration, that is because it’s hand painted. The thickness of this gaiwan’s walls will be a pleasant surprise to all who have used egg-shell thin porcelain and scorched their fingers a few times.

Zhong Kui Gaiwan from Jingdezhen

Fully hand painted porcelain, a work of art featuring an iconic Chinese character.

Zhong Kui was a genius of the ancient world. He grew up in a small town, and studied with great effort to enter the imperial court. His grades were at the top of his class, but when he was summoned to have an audience with the emperor he was deemed too monstrous to enter the service and was turned away.

Zhong Kui pleaded them to reconsider, and said if he is turned away from service because of his looks, he would rather die than continue living. They turned him away anyway citing both his brute looks and towering stature would intimidate the other officials and dignitaries. He got on his hands and knees and bashed his head against the imperial steps until he died.

While he was in line the afterlife waiting to see where he would end up, King Yama read the document containing his life story. Intrigued by it, Zhong Kui was summoned to meet King Yama, and was enlisted to use his genius and strength to search the Earth for the runaway spirits from hell that are hiding there, and forcefully return them to hell for punishment.