Jian Zhan his mystery

We don’t say a Jian Zhan bowl or teapot, we say “a Jian Zhan”. Jian Zhan (Tian Mu porcelain) dates from the time of the Tang dynasty, at the beginning of the 5 Dynasties. It was one of the 8 most famous porcelains, this one black, during the Song Dynasty in China. Jian Zhan's craftsmanship is characterized by extraordinary, unpredictable glaze colors: Wujin glaze, rabbit hair glaze, in a drop of oil, the partridge feather glaze, the yao bian etc...Apparently the bowl is the main element which illustrates Jian Zhan, the teapot follows. Jian Zhan almost gradually disappeared during the Yuan dynasty. It was in 1981 that experts from several institutions such as the Central Academy of Arts and Crafts, the former Fujian Institute of Light Industry and the former Jian Yang Porcelain Factory, worked, researched, experimented to come out Jian Zhan of oblivion, for 600 years. The restoration is a success. It would seem that the materials necessary to perform such wonders are only found in the Jian Zhang region, hence the Jian Zhan
- Selection of a clay with a high iron content, the glaze too.
- Crushing, clay and glaze pulverized in a machine.
- Washing and sieving the clay and the glaze which will be placed respectively in a mud basin and in a glaze tank.
- Storing the clay in a place sheltered from the sun and air, maintaining it at a certain temperature and humidity for some time: This results in “Chen Fu” which is the beginning of the process of ceramic.
- Kneading the clay to eliminate as much air and impurities as possible, standardize the humidity, make it denser and to avoid drying out which would cause cracks.
- Shaping is done by hand but also by machine.
- Modification, it is done with a knife.
- Baking unglazed Jian Zhan. This is when the most fragile and cracked ones are eliminated.
- Mix the glaze, “the old way” using a natural glaze made from iron ore and vegetable ashes. Simple materials that will create the most mysterious crystals. This alliance makes up unexpected, magnificent and striking glazes.
- Glazing is an art, a skillful technique so that the glazing is not too thin to leave space for the crystal to develop, not too thick to prevent it from sticking to the bottom.
- Bake and cook Jian Zhan. Great vigilance is required here, in terms of time, temperature, control of reduction duration. All this will influence the result of the glaze.
- Finishing oven, where defective products will be eliminated.
It is claimed that the Jian Zhan glaze containing silica, alumina, ferric oxide and calcium oxide, which releases iron ions, would absorb chloride ions present in water. These ions can therefore be absorbed by the human body and be a factor in the transport of hemoglobin and red blood cells. Which would mean that drinking tea with Jian Zhan would prevent anemia, high blood pressure and have a calming effect. This would also act on the endocrine system and we would obtain a sterilization effect. Jian Zhan would prevent the deterioration of tea left in its container for a long time. So much for JIAN ZHAN.

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