Purchased this summer. This is a Jianzhan teacup fired in Fujian Province, China, and its temmoku shape is adorable! After using it for a while, you'll see the craquelure appear with the color of the tea. How about enjoying it for a relaxing tea time? The bottom looks dark, but I believe it's iron deposits from the kiln. It's not a stain. Please understand. Size: Height: 6cm Diameter: 9.5cm Temmoku tea bowls were originally brought to Japan by monks from the temples on Mount Tianmu in Zhejiang Province (during the Song Dynasty in China) during the Kamakura period in Japan. This Jianzhan was fired in the Long Kilns of Fujian Province at the time and is a type of Chinese black porcelain. It looks like pottery, but it's actually porcelain. This firing method is extremely difficult, going through 13 processes, and it's only fired with wood at 1300 degrees. Currently, there are gas kilns and electric kilns, but wood firing is still the most appealing. By the way, the Long Kilns were abolished around the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty in China, and this firing method was discontinued. In recent years (since the 70s), research to revive this firing method has progressed, and the items that were once for the imperial court are now available to the general public. The glaze used in Jianzhan is a mineral glaze, rich in iron and also containing clay. Therefore, it melts in the kiln at 1300 degrees, creating metallic kiln changes, resulting in various colors and designs. It's hard to explain in a single sentence, but you can't feel its beauty unless you use it. For example, if you place it in sunlight, under a flashlight, or under a desk lamp, rather than in a dark place, you can see an impressive cosmic landscape. You can also see the changes in color and design at the moment of immersion, and then even more dramatic changes after boiling it once. After boiling it once, the color and design seem to settle down. This is called 'Yǎngzhǎn' (nurturing the cup), and it's the first step. Then, by using it with tea or alcohol, you can enjoy the vividness of the minerals and the taste. If you love ceramic culture and want to relax with tea utensils, please give it a try. If you want to combine shipping, please comment or use the Mercari system. I will lower the price. Jingdezhen tea sets, Gaiwan, Jingdezhen tableware, plates, small plates, individual serving plates, jars, pots, antique items, tea utensils, Mashiko ware, Chinese souvenirs, teacups, cups, glasses, teapots, glass teapots, glass cups, glass cups, sencha, green tea, black tea, coffee, tea bags, Pu-erh tea, Oolong tea, Taiwan tea, Imari ware, Kutani ware, tea sets, teacups, yuzamashi (water cooler), vases, bowls