Song Dynasty tea culture had a profound impact on ceramics, leading to the creation of specialized tea bowls like Jian ware with unique glazes and forms, reflecting the period’s emphasis on simplicity, elegance, and mindfulness.
Song Dynasty blackwares, including Jian and Jizhou, feature diverse and artistic dark glazes like "hare's fur," “oil spot,” and decorative techniques, showcasing the range and creativity of Song potters.
Jian ware tea bowls, produced in the kilns of Jianyang (modern-day Fujian province), are among the most revered ceramics of the Song Dynasty. Characterized by their dark, often black, glazes, often displaying a unique hare's fur or oil spot effect, Jian ware tea bowls were particularly prized by Zen Buddhist monks and tea connoisseurs for their aesthetic and functional qualities. The dark hues and varied patterning made them ideal for showcasing the light colour of the tea itself.