Ru Kiln Large Cicada Porcelain Teacup

175mL

  • Capacity: 175mL
  • Style: Ru Kiln (Ru Yao; 汝窑)
  • Material: Glazed ceramic

$30.00

4 in stock


This large drum-shaped teacup has a spherical shape that sits comfortably in the hand. Its porcelain is a simple warm white with a cicada perched on a bamboo branch on one side.

The cicada (zhi liao) and bamboo (zhu) design on the side of this teacup is a visual play on words that creates a reference to the phrase zhi zhu. Zhi zhu is a philosophical concept describing a state of gratitude and satisfaction where one feels one has enough and has no hunger for material things. As such, the image of a cicada perched on bamboo has become artistic shorthand for this concept.