Tea pet

{{Short description|Chinese clay figurine for tea making}} {{more citations needed|date=November 2024}} {{Infobox Chinese | pic = Tea Pet.png | piccap = Tea pets for sale in a shop | collapse = no | title = Tea Pet | t = {{linktext|茶寵}} | c = {{linktext|茶宠}} | p = Cháchǒng }} '''Tea pet''' or '''tea lover's pet''' ({{lang-zh|s=茶宠|t=茶寵|p=cháchǒng}}), also known phonetically as '''''chachong''''', is a small pottery figurine kept by some tea drinkers as an ornament or a good luck charm.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Hendren|first=Jay|title=Gongfu Cha: A New American Luxury|journal=Colorado Journal of Asian Studies|volume=1|issue=1|year=2012|page=59}}</ref> They are usually made of purple clay or ''zisha'', a type of prized clay from the region near Yixing in Jiangsu province, China. Similar to Yixing teapots made from the same clay, tea pets are unglazed, and are mostly monochromatic with a rough surface.<ref>Pan, Chunfang (2004). Yixing Pottery: The World of Chinese Tea Culture. San Francisco: Long River Press. pp. 41–49.</ref>

A tea pet is typically placed on a tea tray and has tea poured over it during tea time. Due to the tea pet not being glazed, the figurine absorbs some of the tea, resulting in the tea pet changing color over time, as well as building up a tea scent.

One of the most popular models for the tea pet is the "pee-pee boy", which, when first soaked in cold water and then showered with hot water, will squirt out the water it previously absorbed.<ref name="Lee2016SR" /> Tea pets are also molded into zodiac animals or Chinese mythical creatures such as dragons, {{Transliteration|zh|pixiu}} and {{Transliteration|zh|qilin}} to symbolize good luck, fortune and happiness, as well as historical or mythical characters such as Guanyin, Maitreya, and Zhuge Liang.

== History == {{expand section|date=June 2021}} thumb|Hot water poured on the head of the "pee-pee boy" tea pet triggers a water jet indicating the water temperature.<ref name="Lee2016SR">{{Cite journal|last1=Lee|first1=Vincent|last2=Attinger|first2=Daniel|date=2016-07-19|title=Thermodynamics and historical relevance of a jetting thermometer made of Chinese zisha ceramic|journal=Scientific Reports|language=en|volume=6|doi=10.1038/srep28609|issn=2045-2322|article-number=28609|pmid=27431925|pmc=4949419|bibcode=2016NatSR...628609L }}</ref> The birthplace of tea pets, Yixing, was first famous as the birthplace of Yixing clay during the Song dynasty (960–1279 CE).<ref>Lo, Kuei-hsiang (1986). The stonewares of Yixing: From the Ming period to the present day. London: Sotheby's Publications.</ref> With the popularity of the Yixing clay teapot, Yixing became a major production center for tea pots, mugs, and other things used for making tea. Teapot artisans then began molding Yixing clay into various mythical creatures or animals as mascots for tea enthusiasts, with production still concentrated in Yixing region in the modern day.

Each tea pet often represents specific symbols or virtues, with designs ranging from animals to mythical creatures. For instance, a frog or toad is commonly associated with wealth and prosperity, while a dragon symbolizes power and strength. The selection of a tea pet can reflect the owner's aspirations and values, making these figures meaningful companions during the tea ceremony.

Despite the longevity of Yixing as a production centre for tea products and accessories, little has been written on the development of tea pets in Chinese history, with few literary sources detailing their use and production.

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://finance.sina.com.cn/money/collection/gwzx/20100413/18407742499.shtml "Tea Pet: Tea lover's pet"] {{in lang|zh}}. Sina.com. Retrieved 2014-02-03 *[https://web.archive.org/web/20140422233340/http://bjyouth.ynet.com/3.1/1308/22/8222242.html "Do you know Tea Pet?"] {{in lang|zh}}. YNET.com. Retrieved 2014-02-03

Category:Chinese pottery Category:Tea culture Category:Teaware