18 shapes of Manshen teapots (Chinese: 曼生, pinyin: Màn shēng).

The unique aesthetics of literature, the artistic conceptuality of poetry, the elegance of calligraphy, the etherealness of painting, the simplicity of gold and stone are organically integrated into the shape of this type of teapot. The art of making purple clay teapots has reached its perfection, which is admired by contemporaries and will be admired by future generations. Products made with unrivaled craftsmanship are considered by the community of connoisseurs of purple clay teapots as works of art.

Before Manshen, purple clay teapots were mostly traditional in shape, often repeating each other and not subject to significant changes. However, teapots created by Chen Manshen overcame this conservatism and constraint, having a “square and round” shape (Chinese: 方非一式, 圆不一相, pinyin: Fāng fēi yīshì, yuán bù yī xiāng). His teapots are simple, bright and clear in shape, with plenty of free space on the surface, decorated with poems and inscriptions.

Mansheng's teapots are distinguished by their variety of shapes, they are simple and elegant at the same time. Made by the great master, the products influenced the tradition of making purple clay teapots. Combining the skills of calligraphy, engraving, sculpture, literature, they created a unique style in art. Teapots became the first examples of such a synthesis of arts. Their creator Mansheng will forever remain in the history of cultural tradition. The expression "A teapot is a treasure, and painting gives it value" (Chinese: 壶随字贵, 字依壶传, pinyin: Hú suí zì guì, zì yī hú chuán) reflects the essence of the great master's works.

Biography

Chen Mansheng (1768–1822) was from Qiantan (Chinese: 钱塘, pinyin: Qiántáng), from Zhejiang Province (Chinese: 浙江, pinyin: Zhèjiāng), during the Qing Dynasty (Chinese: 清, pinyin: Qīng). His real name is Hongshou (Chinese: 鸿寿, pinyin: Hóng shòu), and his pen name is Zigong (Chinese: 子恭, pinyin: Zi gōng), also known as Mansheng (Chinese: 曼生, pinyin: Màn shēng), the first Daoist Zhongyu (Chinese: 一号种榆道人, pinyin: Yī hào zhǒng yú dàoren) (note: this is a title emphasizing mastery in a certain field), Mangong (Chinese: 曼公, pinyin: Màn gōng), Head of Jiagu Pavilion (Chinese: 夹谷亭长, pinyin: Jiā gǔ tíng) zhǎng), Xuxi Yuyin (Chinese: 胥溪渔隐, pinyin: Xūxīyú yǐn) and other names. He was a master of calligraphy and engraving, master of many calligraphic styles, including cursive, classical and printed. His calligraphy was distinguished by its elegance and expressiveness. He was one of the greatest masters of his time.

Chen Mansheng (Chinese: 陈曼生, pinyin: Chén mànshēng)

Chen Mansheng used the Qing (秦, pinyin: Qín) and Han (汉, pinyin: Hàn) dynasty seal style in his works. He studied under many famous calligraphers and painters, including Ding Jin (丁敬, pinyin: Dīng jìng) and Huang Yi (黄易, pinyin: Huáng yì). His works were bold and expressive, combining simplicity and independence, conveying a profound and ancient art. Mansheng used a refined and painterly style, characterized by swiftness and grace, with each stroke appearing natural and free, and the chisels leaving clear and straight marks, giving his works a sense of strength. The style was simple but expressive. He is considered one of the great masters of the Eight Schools of Xilin (Chinese: 西泠八家, pinyin: Xī líng bā jiā).

Around the 21st year of the Jiangqing (Chinese: 嘉庆, pinyin: Jiāqìng) reign (1816), Mansheng was appointed governor of Liyang (Chinese: 溧阳, pinyin: Lìyáng) County, where he began to show interest in the art of making purple clay teapots. He created 18 designs of purple clay teapots on his own, after which he invited craftsmen such as Yang Pennian (Chinese: 杨彭年, pinyin: Yáng péng nián), Yang Fen Neng (Chinese: 杨凤年, pinyin: Yáng fèng nián), and Shao Erchuan (Chinese: 邵二泉, pinyin: Shào'èr quán) to make pieces based on his designs. He also inscribed his own teapots and named them "Mansheng Teapots".

Eighteen Forms of Mansheng

	Shipiao (Chinese: 石瓢, Pinyin: Shí piáo) The inscription on the teapot: "Not thick, but strong, therefore eternal"

	Jinglan (Chinese: 井栏, pinyin: Jǐng lán) The inscription on the teapot: "The well is not deep, and the bucket is not small, so that drinking is convenient and always good"

	Hehuan (Chinese: 合欢, pinyin: Héhuān) The inscription on the teapot: "Eight loaves of bread, and above them are swans and phoenixes, and whoever first finds a female will prosper."

	Zhoupan (Chinese: 周盘, Pinyin: Zhōu pán) The inscription on the teapot: "I love my teapot as a border guard loves his food and drink"

	Hengyun (Chinese: 横云, Pinyin: Héng yún) The inscription on the teapot: "These clouds are dense, there is no food in them, but they inspire poets and sages"

	Nangua tiliang (Chinese: 南瓜提梁, pinyin: Nánguā tíliáng) The inscription on the teapot reads: "A cheerful and warming winter drink, personally prepared by the hands of Dongpo (Chinese: 东坡, pinyin: Dōng pō)"

	Shidiao tilan (Chinese: 石铫提梁, pinyin: Shí diào tíliáng) The inscription on the teapot: "Created by me personally, a skillfully crafted teapot, in no way inferior to other masters"

	Shipiao tilan (Chinese: 石瓢提梁, Pinyin: Shí piáo tíliáng) The inscription on the teapot reads: "Boiling white stone under a green cloud. Drink carefully and invite Mr. Tong Jun (Chinese: 桐君, pinyin: Tóng jūn)"

	Zhuou (Chinese: 乳瓯, pinyin: Rǔ ōu) The inscription on the teapot: "Milk streams, like white snowflakes, cool my hot tongue"

	Shibian (Chinese: 石扁, pinyin: Shí biǎn) The inscription on the teapot reads: "This flat stone quenches my thirst."

	Paogua (Chinese: 匏瓜, pinyin: Páo guā) The inscription on the teapot: "Drinking is auspicious, and the bottle gourd is incomparable"

	Li Yin (Chinese: 笠荫, pinyin: Lì yīn) The inscription on the teapot reads: "Like the shade under a straw hat on a hot day, tea quenches thirst. Whether it is the same, two or one, Buddha does not express an opinion."

	Tsueyue (Chinese: 却月, pinyin: Què yuè) The inscription on the teapot: "The moon is full and then wanes, becoming for me a measure of time"

	Hulu (Chinese: 葫芦, pinyin: Húlu) The inscription on the teapot reads: "Work for charity, for Zhang Cang (Chinese: 张苍, pinyin: Zhāng cāng), to satisfy hunger."

	Hedou (Chinese: 合斗, pinyin: Hé dòu) The inscription on the teapot: "North Star high, South Star low, Milky Way pouring out, stars hanging on the horizon"

	Banyue (Chinese: 半月, pinyin: Bànyuè) The inscription on the teapot: "Do not seek fullness to prolong life, drink an inspiring and sweet drink"

	Banpiao (Chinese: 半瓢, pinyin: Bàn piáo) The inscription on the teapot reads: "The four thousand six hundred and fourteenth teapot made by Mansheng. For joy and pure pleasure."

	Bangua (Chinese: 半瓜, pinyin: Bàn guā) The inscription on the teapot reads: "Branches of plum blossoms, snow and living fire, and the mountain dwellers came out to become eternal immortals."

Other Mansheng teapots

Zhuchu (Chinese: 柱础, pinyin: Zhù chǔ)

Bai na (Chinese: 百纳, pinyin: Bǎi nà)

Hepan (Chinese: 合盘, pinyin: Hé pán)

Tianji (Chinese: 天鸡, pinyin: Tiān jī)

Ji Zhi (Chinese: 汲直, pinyin: Jí zhí)

Jing Wa (Chinese: 镜瓦, pinyin: Jìng wǎ)

Dianhe (Chinese: 钿合, pinyin: Diàn hé)