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EntityQ1233591· pop 21· linked from 272 articles

Also known as zhong

A ' (; ) or ' () is a Chinese lidded bowl without a handle, used for the infusion of tea leaves and the consumption of tea. It was invented during the Ming dynasty. It consists of a bowl, a lid, and a saucer.

Key facts

Chinese.title
Gaiwan
Chinese.pic
File:YellowGaiwanLidOff.jpg
Chinese.piccap
Gaiwan, showing lid, cup, and saucer
Chinese.picsize
310px
Chinese.pic2
Chinese gaiwan (cropped).jpg
Chinese.piccap2
Three gaiwans with various patterns
Chinese.picsize2
310px
Chinese.t
蓋碗
Chinese.s
盖碗
Chinese.p
gàiwǎn
Chinese.l
lidded bowl
Chinese.t2
蓋杯
Chinese.s2
盖杯
Chinese.p2
gàibēi
Chinese.l2
lidded cup
Chinese.c3
焗盅
Chinese.p3
júzhōng
Chinese.l3
hot-steeping vessel

via Wikipedia infobox

~4 min read

Encyclopedic overview

6 sections
Contents
  • History
  • Design
  • Functions
  • Use
  • See also
  • References

A ' (; ) or ' () is a Chinese lidded bowl without a handle, used for the infusion of tea leaves and the consumption of tea. It was invented during the Ming dynasty. It consists of a bowl, a lid, and a saucer.

==History== Prior to the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), tea was normally consumed from the vessel in which it was prepared. As described by the tea master Lu Yu, this special bowl had to be large enough to accommodate the implements and actions of tea brewing, though compact enough to be held comfortably in the hands for consumption. The term for this versatile piece of equipment was (; lit. 'tea bowl'). It was during the Ming dynasty that the innovations in both tea ritual and tea preparation gave rise to the gaiwan.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “gaiwan” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.