The Lunar Vessel: Moon-White Jade Porcelain

Handcrafted High-Footed Stem Cup | Master Fan Daoming (Lazy Fire Kiln)

The Lunar Vessel (Gāo Zú Zhǎn) is an architectural tribute to the scholarly elegance of the Song and Yuan Dynasties. Its distinctive high-footed silhouette is designed for a dignified hold, lifting the ritual of tea above the mundane. At ZENTAOEAST, we present this vessel as a “Living Artifact”—a bridge between the precision of ancient restoration and the spontaneous flow of the Tao.

The Master: A Dialogue between Tao and Clay

This vessel is the work of Master Fan Daoming, the founder of the legendary Lan Huo Yao (Lazy Fire Kiln). A Taoist priest of the Zhengyi School (Taoist name: Sanyi Daoren), Master Fan’s journey began in the cultural restoration halls of Beijing, where he spent years repairing ancient treasures.

Now practicing “silent cultivation” through porcelain in Fuliang, Jiangxi, he believes that true creation cannot be forced—it must arise naturally. This philosophy led to the name “Lazy Fire,” symbolizing a rejection of industrial speed in favor of nature’s own rhythm. Every piece carries his hand-engraved signature under the glaze: the characters “Three” (三) or “One” (一), signifying his spiritual lineage.

The Alchemy of Jade: 1300°C Transformation

The extraordinary “Jade-like” texture of this cup is the result of a revolutionary yet traditional mineral alchemy.

• The Base: The glaze is built upon the classic formulas of Song Dynasty Ru-ware and Southern Song Guan-ware Moon White (Yuè Bái).

• The Jade Infusion: Master Fan incorporates a proprietary blend of Emerald, Agate, Yellow Dragon Jade, and Hetian Jade powders into the raw ore glaze.

• The Fire Ritual: Due to the high melting point of these precious stones, the vessel must be fired at an extreme temperature of 1300°C for over 15 hours. The result is a surface of incredible depth and luminescence—a “Moon White” that doesn’t just reflect light, but seems to hold it within.

A Living Surface: The Perpetual Crackle

This is a vessel that evolves with its owner. The glaze features a delicate, spider-web Crackle (Kāi Piàn). Unlike mass-produced ceramics, this crackle is “alive”—it will continue to develop and bloom as it is nourished by the tea over years of use. The high-footed design allows the heat to dissipate gracefully, while the handle-less form encourages a mindful, two-handed hold or a stable grip on the stem, bringing you closer to the warmth of the tea.

Curator’s Verdict

“When I first held this cup, I was struck by the height and the weight of the stem. It forces you to hold your tea with a certain reverence. Master Fan Daoming has captured the ‘Bone’ of the Song Dynasty and softened it with the ‘flesh’ of real jade. It is ‘Rugged Simplicity’ refined to its highest frequency. This is not a cup for a rushed life; it is a sanctuary for a quiet mind.”

— Richard Zhang, Founding Curator