Tenmoku

Tenmoku or Jian Zhan (建盏) is a glaze technique that originates from Mt. Tenmoku in China. During the Song Dynasty (1127-1279), the technique is popular for giving porcelain a glossy, crystal-like finish. This technique was later brought into Japan by a monk and became one of the key techniques in Japanese pottery.

The Jian Zhan tea cups are lightweight and comfortable to hold, making the tea experience leagues better. The porcelain material and glaze ingredients made the cup incredibly heat resistant, keeping your liquid warm during a long tea session. 

Tenmoku Pottery

Tea cups glazed using the tenmoku technique (tenmoku chawan) tend to produce a beautiful black colour. However, the tenmoku glaze can also produce a variety of colours such as blue, red, purple, green, pink, and many more. The vibrant colours are the result of the high concentration of iron in the glaze.

The high iron content oxidises into crystals during firing, and this process produces unique colours. The technique is also highly precise, so even the slightest change of iron concentrate can change how the colour turns out.

Tips: Tenmoku tea cups are not microwave and dishwasher-safe due to the high iron content. These cups are best used for tea and hot liquid.

Ci Porcelain’s Tenmoku

At Ci Porcelain, our artisan potters have mastered the tenmoku pottery technique to produce consistently beautiful pieces. Each piece may share the same colourings, but the individual crystal patterns vary. Hence, every tenmoku piece you get from us is one of a kind.

Our tenmokus retains the beauty of the original Jian Zhan, capturing the appeal that has lasted for thousands of years. However, the cups also appeal to a modern audience, with vibrant colours and unique patterning that you can’t find anywhere else.

Shop our tenmoku now and enhance your tea experience.