Evolution of tea culture and ceramics in China

Door Eastern Leaves uit China zal er op zaterdag 3 oktober en zondag 4 oktober 2026 vier masterclasses worden gegeven bij ITC. Dit jaar zijn de masterclasses onderdeel van de “Evolution of tea culture and ceramics in China”.

Eastern Leaves gerund door het echtpaar Vivian en Lorenzo, biedt naast de verkoop en productie van thee en teaware ook theereizen en -trainingen aan. Hun standplaats is in China, maar ze hebben zelf ook een plek in Europa: een thee shop in Milaan.

Ook deze keer zullen ze vanuit China diverse thee en teaware meenemen om na afloop van de masterclas te kunnen kopen.

Let op, net als voorgaande keren, zullen de masterclasses in het Engels gegeven gaan worden.

Perfecting craftsmanship: the art of Jianshui

Zaterdag 3 oktober, 10.00 – 12.00 uur

Description

On Saturday 3th of October, we begin the morning by venturing deeper into the world of ceramics. We are in the south of Yunnan, in the city of Jianshui, where the modelling of clay dates back to primitive times. Here, the art of ceramics has remained a defining constant across generations of artisans who passed down the craft of shaping this distinctive clay through the Han, Tang and Song dynasties, maturing through the Yuan, Ming and Qing eras in parallel with the development of tea culture.
In the Qing era, modern oolong and white teas came into being, completing the six categories we still have today, while Jianshui teapots became celebrated for their uniqueness and exceptional level of refinement.
The tradition of Jianshui teapots represents the result of centuries of accumulated knowledge and is a remarkable expression of the fusion between Han culture and the ethnic minority cultures of Yunnan.

A selection of rare teas, chosen especially for the occasion, will accompany the narration of the evolution of tea and ceramics.

Diancha: the Chinese art of powdered tea

Zaterdag 3 oktober, 14.30 – 16.30 uur

Description

Through Jianzhan ceramics and the precise simplicity of gestures, we will discover the art of Diancha, the Chinese preparation of whisked powdered tea.

On Saturday 3rd of October we will begin our journey through the history of tea and ceramics, immersing ourselves in the refined dimension of Song Dynasty, when tea was elevated to an art form, bringing new elegance to the imperial courts.

With Diancha 点茶 the preparation of tea becomes an aesthetic pursuit that begins with the choice of tools and bowls best suited to highlight tea in its integrity: its taste, fragrance, colour and texture. Attention to the elegance of each gesture and the refinement of the objects used in whisking of tea complete an artistic picture that places the Song Dynasty at the cultural apex of tea history: a history that, precisely in that period, was beginning to take its first steps beyond China’s borders and into new traditions.

Every participant will practice Diancha with the finest tea powder, and afterwards, we’ll split into groups for a lively Diancha competition: an authentic taste of the “tea fighting” (Dòuchá 斗茶) invented during the Song Dynasty.

Yixing teapots: a craftsmanship of popular identity

Zondag 4 oktober, 10.00 – 12.00 uur.

Description

On Sunday October 4th, we continue our journey through the history of tea and ceramics, following the evolutionary path of these two arts. We move towards Ming Dynasty, to encounter a pivotal moment in history. It is the autumn of the twenty-fourth year of the Hongwu reign, when Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang issued the decree that marked the end of powdered tea production and the beginning of the age of loose-leaf tea.

A radical change that revolutionised the art of infusing tea and, as a consequence, ceramics. An era begins in which craftsmanship and the makers of both leaves and ceramics are celebrated, giving rise to the myths of pioneering figures and founders of long-lasting traditions.
While the elite of nobles and literati remained loyal to the art of Diancha for another century, the age of loose leaves and teapots grew and spread through popular culture, becoming an everyday art form in which new expressions of craftsmanship found their place, destined to become timeless arts.

We will showcase representative works by different artists, each with its own style, clay, and design philosophy, and explore how these elements bring different meanings to the way we brew tea.

A selection of rare teas, chosen especially for the occasion, will accompany the narration of the evolution of tea and ceramics..

Gaiwan: the becoming of a national icon

Zondag 4 oktober, 14.30 – 16.30 uur

Description

On Sunday 4th of October, in the afternoon, we reach the end of this journey through the evolution of tea culture and ceramics in China, devoting ourselves to the most recognised and significant protagonist of Chinese tea preparation: 盖碗, the gaiwan.

Literally “lidded bowl”, the gaiwan is a mirror of the evolution of tea across dynasties, grown so deeply rooted in the popular consciousness as to become a symbol of the nation’s culture itself.
From the simple chawan bowls of the Tang era, we move to the first accounts of the addition of a saucer, narrated in the Yan Fanlu (演繁露) of the Song Dynasty. It is in the Ming era that the need to filter loose leaves led to the introduction of the lid, and during the Qing Dynasty the gaiwan took on the form that still reigns on our tea trays today, its spread becoming widespread across all levels of society.

Its three parts create a poetic and ideal connection, reflecting traditions, arts and the philosophical thought of a people. The gaiwan is not merely a simple object for tea, it becomes symbol and language: it appears in official portraits of prominent figures as the quintessence of national culture, enters the collective identity and the literary imagination, bearing witness to the depth of meaning it has accumulated across the centuries.

A selection of rare teas, chosen especially for the occasion, will accompany the narration of the evolution of tea and ceramics.

Wil je meer dan 1 masterclass bijwonen? Meld je dan aan voor een van de masterclasses en geef bij de opmerkingen op welke masterclass(es) je nog meer wilt volgen. Dan regelen wij de andere inschrijving(en) voor je.

Voor deze masterclasses regelen wij geen lunch.

Voor iedere masterclass geldt een minimum van 6 deelnemers.

Inschrijven? Klik op een trainingsdatum en kies 'Inschrijven'.