The Yixing kilns in Jiangsu province have a long history of ceramics production. Accordingly,
Yixing county is also known as the pottery capital. Yixing wares include zisha (purple clay)
and Jun-glazed ware. Purple clay teapots were once very popular and were exported to
Europe since as early as the 17th century. Yixing potters customarily put thier names on the
tea wares. Among the celebrated potters of the Qing dynasty were Chen Mingyuan, Chen Mansheng
and Yang Pangnian. Most of the teapots are of a simple design and are sometimes decorated by
using the techniques of incising, applique decoration, slip decoration and enamel painting and
consist of poems or images of flowers, trees and rocks.