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The Chinese Tea Pet | Lesson 2.5
What is a Tea Pet, 茶宠摆件精品 可养?
While tea is by far the most consumed beverage in the world, after water, even most daily tea drinkers don’t know what ‘tea pets’ are. In fact, many people who come across this term the first time, think it’s a typo for tea pot.
Tea pets are generally made from glazed or unglazed ceramic. For unglazed ceramic it can be either common ceramic or Yixing clay. In a tea ceremony, tea lovers pour some tea over the tea pets, allowing the unglazed surface to absorb the tea. As a result, the tea pet becomes shinier and may change color over time.
Sometimes tea pets are partially or fully glazed. In such case, the glaze is often a special kind of crackle glaze. This will allow the poured over tea to penetrate the cracks and change its color over time.
History of Tea Pets
While the history of tea is extensively documented, we are surprised that there’s so little known about the history of tea pets. There’s only one significant mention of these figures in historical records. In a work from the Ming Dynasty “Yangxian Famous Pottery Records”, there’s a mention of a Yixing clay artist, who makes clay tea pets. It was Chen Zhongmei from the Wanli period in the Ming Dynasty. It’s not certain whether these sculptures actually functioned as tea pets. Given this, most historians assume that tea pet making originated from the Ming Dynasty, 1368 – 1644, however, no work from this period survived.
In the Dynasty thereafter, the Qing Dynasty, 1644-1912, tea pets were more common. If you want to see them for yourself, there are many tea pets that you can see in the Palace Museum in Beijing, most of the works dating back to the Qianlong period 1735-1796.
Improve the Tea Experience
One may own tea pets to improve the tea experience, a better experience may differ per person. For a tea pet to improve one’s tea session, time is key. If you’re brewing a quick mug of tea using a tea bag and want to consume it fast, tea pets are likely not suitable to be part of that experience. However, if you often take the time to enjoy a slow tea session, tea pets can improve your tea session. For example, a tea pet can be used to decorate your tea space. However, most of the times tea pets are seen as companions.
A Companion
When a tea drinker becomes a tea enthusiast, one advances from simply steeping a mug of tea to enjoying tea the ceremonial way. In a slow tea session, tea pets are often seen as a companion.
This feeling of companionship is strengthened by the fact that tea pets can be nurtured by pouring tea over time. A said before, this will allow the pet to become shinier and sometimes change its color. As a result, it may feel as if you’ve raised your tea pet.
This is also why tea pets are often animal, such as frogs, pigs, foxes or rabbits. Sometimes, one picks a tea pet that’s the same as their Chinese zodiac sign. For example, if you’re born in the year of the Pig, you may pick a pig tea pet, further improving one’s connection with it.
In Western countries, cat and dog tea pets are the most popular as they’re the most common pets. Hence, it’s more likely that one regard such tea pets as a companion.
Improve one’s Luck
In China, tea pets are also often owned to improve one’s luck. Not as many people are as superstitious today as in the past. Yet even people who don’t believe in luck, still love to own these ceramic pets for their fun meaning.
This is why tea pets are often made in animals which are seen as lucky symbols. By far the most common tea pet you see in China is the Three-Legged Money Toad, which is supposed to bring you wealth.
Home Decoration
Tea pets also serve the purpose of decorating one’s home or tea space. Some people don’t even know they own a tea pet. They may simply buy such figurines as an ornament to decorate one’s home. Or they may have inherited it from their parents or grandparents, and simply keep the figures in memory of them.
Tea enthusiasts who know about tea pets, do not only use them during their tea sessions. They may also place them in their ‘tea corner’, tea space, or tea cabinet for decoration purposes. Simply staring at them when one enters your tea space can result in a feeling of enjoyment. This is why they really worthy to own to many tea lovers.
Three-Legged Golden Toad | Lucky Frog Tea Pet
Three-Legged Golden Toad | Lucky Frog Tea Pet
Three-Legged Golden Toad | Lucky Frog Tea Pet
Three-legged toad tea pet is called "golden toad" (Jin Chan), which is a homonym for money (Jin Qian) in Chinese. It loves eating coins! There was a story of Liu Hai (one of the gods of wealth in Chinese folklore) who saved the golden toad from a well by throwing a cord of gold coins to it, and Liu Hai became immortal because of the deed.
Three-legged toad tea pet is called "golden toad" (Jin Chan), which is a homonym for money (Jin Qian) in Chinese. It loves eating coins! There was a story of Liu Hai (one of the gods of wealth in Chinese folklore) who saved the golden toad from a well by throwing a cord of gold coins to it, and Liu Hai became immortal because of the deed. Today, golden toads are not only decorative, but also believed to ward off evil and attract wealth.The coin held in the mouth of the golden toad can often be turned, meaning "to make money". When there is no coin in the mouth, it means it attracts the wealth.
Placement
If your lucky frog has a coin in the mouth, it should be facing you. And its head can’t face directly towards the door, in case the door-god gets offended. If it has no coin in the mouth, it should be facing where you are facing, meaning it attracts the money for you with its mouth. Better not to let outsiders play with it, so as not to disturb its spirit.
IMPORTANT: It's very important that the frog faces you if has a coin in the mouth, or your wealth will leak away.
Elephant Tea Pet
Three-Legged Golden Toad | Lucky Frog Tea Pet
Three-Legged Golden Toad | Lucky Frog Tea Pet
Elephant tea pets are quite popular among tea lovers. In Chinese traditional culture, the image of the elephant is gentle, peaceful, strong and intelligent. And the pronunciation of elephant in Chinese is the same as the word auspiciousness, that’s why elephant is an auspicious sign. The Fengshui believes the property of the fortune is wa
Elephant tea pets are quite popular among tea lovers. In Chinese traditional culture, the image of the elephant is gentle, peaceful, strong and intelligent. And the pronunciation of elephant in Chinese is the same as the word auspiciousness, that’s why elephant is an auspicious sign. The Fengshui believes the property of the fortune is water, with its long trunk that absorbs water, elephant is also a symbol of wealth.
The elephant has a long-standing image of strength, diligence and intelligence. The pronunciation of elephant “xiang”(象) is the same as the word auspiciousness (祥) in Chinese, which makes elephant an even more likable symbol.
Placement
People who believe in Fengshui will put the elephant in the most prosperous place indoors, and the whole family will benefit from it. Basically find a bright place with green plants is the best for its placement. Thus, if you place it on your tea table, also put a green plant next to it to make it happy.
Lion Dragon Tea Pet | Qilin
Three-Legged Golden Toad | Lucky Frog Tea Pet
Lion Dragon Tea Pet | Qilin
Qilin is a symbol of kindness and good luck. According to legend, it only appears in peaceful times, so it represents peace and longevity. It looks like it has a head of a Chinese dragon, but the body is the combination of a lion, ox, or horse, with one horn on the head. Because of its unique image, Chinese people often use Qilin to refer
Qilin is a symbol of kindness and good luck. According to legend, it only appears in peaceful times, so it represents peace and longevity. It looks like it has a head of a Chinese dragon, but the body is the combination of a lion, ox, or horse, with one horn on the head. Because of its unique image, Chinese people often use Qilin to refer to outstanding and noble people.
Placement
A qilin should be placed on the tea table facing the door or window.
Buddha Tea Pet
Bai Cai |Chinese cabbage
Lion Dragon Tea Pet | Qilin
A buddha tea pet can bring people happiness and a better tomorrow. His big belly can accommodate anything ordinary people find difficult to tolerate. With the constant smile on his face, he can always make troubles go away. Buddha tea pets are generally in a sitting or a lying posture, makes people feel chill just looking at it.
A buddha tea pet can bring people happiness and a better tomorrow. His big belly can accommodate anything ordinary people find difficult to tolerate. With the constant smile on his face, he can always make troubles go away. Buddha tea pets are generally in a sitting or a lying posture, makes people feel chill just looking at it.
Placement
Choose the size that matches the tea tray so that they complement each other. His smiling face should greet the guests, spreading good vibes.
Pixiu
Bai Cai |Chinese cabbage
Bai Cai |Chinese cabbage
Pixiu has a deep-rooted status in the ancient Chinese culture. Legend has it that Pixiu is the ninth son of the dragon who feeds on gold and silver. It only eats but never defecates, which makes its belly a treasure chest. Having a Pixiu at home means endless fortune keeps rolling in. Moreover, Pixiu can drive away the vanity and agitati
Pixiu has a deep-rooted status in the ancient Chinese culture. Legend has it that Pixiu is the ninth son of the dragon who feeds on gold and silver. It only eats but never defecates, which makes its belly a treasure chest. Having a Pixiu at home means endless fortune keeps rolling in. Moreover, Pixiu can drive away the vanity and agitation in people's hearts and bring people good prospect and tranquility.
Placement
Its head should be facing the opening to the outside world, like a door or a window, better for it to draw the money in.
Bai Cai |Chinese cabbage
Bai Cai |Chinese cabbage
Bai Cai |Chinese cabbage
Since this isn't really a 'pet', we might better call it a 'tea artifact'. The Chinese cabbage’s pronunciation is 'Bai Cai', which sounds like "one hundred kinds of wealth" in Chinese. If it was a jade Chinese cabbage, the sound Yu Bai Cai is even more auspicious, meaning 'coming across' loads of money.
Not all luck seekers are in love wit
Since this isn't really a 'pet', we might better call it a 'tea artifact'. The Chinese cabbage’s pronunciation is 'Bai Cai', which sounds like "one hundred kinds of wealth" in Chinese. If it was a jade Chinese cabbage, the sound Yu Bai Cai is even more auspicious, meaning 'coming across' loads of money.
Not all luck seekers are in love with a Chinese Cabbage artifact though. In China, people also use the term 'cabbage price', which means a 'cheap price'. Perhaps, its this contradiction that makes such item just really fun. As such, there's also not really any
Placement
placement ettiquette for it. Just place it where you like it to be on the tea table.
Pig Tea Pet
Tiger Tea Pet
Tiger Tea Pet
Pig has always been a symbol of good fortune and wealth. In the farming society, pigs and horses, cattle, sheep, chickens and dogs are "six livestock". If there is no pig at home, it is not even a home. The plump look of the pig is always adored by Chinese people.
Placement
A pig tea pet should face a door or window to attract wealth. Like
Pig has always been a symbol of good fortune and wealth. In the farming society, pigs and horses, cattle, sheep, chickens and dogs are "six livestock". If there is no pig at home, it is not even a home. The plump look of the pig is always adored by Chinese people.
Placement
A pig tea pet should face a door or window to attract wealth. Like frog tea pets, if it's decorated with coins, then it should be facing you.
Tiger Tea Pet
Tiger Tea Pet
Tiger Tea Pet
Tigers are associated with strength, will, and courage. As it's also the 3rd zodiac sign in Chinese astrology, it's one of the popular kinds of tea pets in China. You've a tiger zodiac if you're born in 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974 etc. In fact, 2022 is also the year of the Tiger.
Placement
The placement of tigers on your tea table will depend
Tigers are associated with strength, will, and courage. As it's also the 3rd zodiac sign in Chinese astrology, it's one of the popular kinds of tea pets in China. You've a tiger zodiac if you're born in 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974 etc. In fact, 2022 is also the year of the Tiger.
Placement
The placement of tigers on your tea table will depend on what you want to achieve. If you want him to give you courage and will power, please place it on the left or right corner facing you. If you want it to protect you, then place it facing the door of the room.
Bat Tea Pet
Tiger Tea Pet
Monkey Tea Pet
Bat is 'Bian Fu' in Chinese, and 'Fu' means good luck and good fortune. The animal represents a blessing from heaven. On the walls of traditional homes in southern China regions, you can often see a inverted "Fu (福)" written, surrounded by four bats drawn at four corners.
Placement
There's no specific placement etiquette for bat tea pets.
Monkey Tea Pet
Turtle Tea Pet
Monkey Tea Pet
A monkey riding a horse means promotion. If it was a big monkey carrying a baby monkey on the back, it means generations of good luck. If there were three monkeys that covered their eyes, mouth, and ears individually, it means no evil should be seen, no evil should be heard, and no evil should be spoken. They are Three Wise Monkeys, adapt
A monkey riding a horse means promotion. If it was a big monkey carrying a baby monkey on the back, it means generations of good luck. If there were three monkeys that covered their eyes, mouth, and ears individually, it means no evil should be seen, no evil should be heard, and no evil should be spoken. They are Three Wise Monkeys, adapted from The Analects of Confucius.
Placement
There's no specific placement etiquette for a monkey tea pet.
Turtle Tea Pet
Turtle Tea Pet
Turtle Tea Pet
A turtle is a symbol of longevity. Ancient people believed that turtles could absorb the aura and spirits of mountains and rivers, and that it brings auspiciousness and tranquility. Turtle has become the spirit of the leading prophet, that can balance the Yin and Yang. If the tea pet is a turtle on the back of the other turtle, it means t
A turtle is a symbol of longevity. Ancient people believed that turtles could absorb the aura and spirits of mountains and rivers, and that it brings auspiciousness and tranquility. Turtle has become the spirit of the leading prophet, that can balance the Yin and Yang. If the tea pet is a turtle on the back of the other turtle, it means that the generations to come will be blessed.
Placement
A turtle tea pet should always face you.
VERY IMPORTANT: If you've grandparents visiting, make sure it faces them. Even better, make sure you have two turtle tea pets when they're visiting.
Carp Tea Pet
Turtle Tea Pet
Turtle Tea Pet
Carp means good luck. As a traditionally loved spiritual fish, it is also a symbol of opportunity. The belief has spread from China to Japan long ago. On the opening day, shops will keep a tank with carps in it, meaning "good market". Carp can be seen everywhere, especially during festivals. When greeting the god of wealth in the Chinese
Carp means good luck. As a traditionally loved spiritual fish, it is also a symbol of opportunity. The belief has spread from China to Japan long ago. On the opening day, shops will keep a tank with carps in it, meaning "good market". Carp can be seen everywhere, especially during festivals. When greeting the god of wealth in the Chinese New Year, a pair of golden carp has to be present. Keeping one carp tea pet just make sense - just like a fish in water.
Placement:
There's specific placement etiquette for this tea pet, however, it's better if you have 2 of them together.
Peanuts
Peanuts is spelled in two characters '花生‘ (hua sheng), and the second character alone means to give birth. Hence, Chinese associate peanuts with fertility and longevity.
Making tea pets in the shape of peanuts is a new phenomenon of the recent years. If they're made well, they really look like real ones. When you see them on a tea table, t
Peanuts is spelled in two characters '花生‘ (hua sheng), and the second character alone means to give birth. Hence, Chinese associate peanuts with fertility and longevity.
Making tea pets in the shape of peanuts is a new phenomenon of the recent years. If they're made well, they really look like real ones. When you see them on a tea table, they aren't often associated with the traditional meaning. People just find them fun to look at. Because peanuts are often consumed during free time in China, it adds this leisurely experience while drinking tea.
Placement:
Peanut tea artifacts are just for fun, so there's no specific placement etiquette for it.