Zisha teapot by Level 1A Grandmasters, BAO Zi-Qiang 鲍志强 石瓢

Master Bao Zhi-Qiang – The Poet of Zisha Engraving (1946–2024)

Bao Zhi-Qiang, art name Le Ren (乐人), was born in 1946 in Yixing, Jiangsu — the heartland of Zisha clay art. He was one of the most revered figures of modern Chinese ceramic art, honoured as both a National Master of Arts and Crafts (2006, 5th batch) and a National Ceramic Art Master (2003, 1st batch).

He entered the Yixing Zisha Factory in 1959, first apprenticing under Tan Yao-Kun and Fan Ze-Lin for pottery carving, and later under Wu Yun-Gen to refine his teapot-making skills. In 1965, he became a student of the legendary ceramic engraver Ren Gan-Ting, under whose influence Bao developed a lifelong devotion to integrating poetry, calligraphy, painting, and carving into Zisha.

Over his six-decade career, Master Bao rose to the position of Chief Technical Artist of the Yixing Zisha Factory, achieving the title of Senior Research-Level Master of Arts and Crafts (Level 1). His artistic philosophy centered on culture as the soul of craftsmanship — transforming each teapot into a vessel of both function and philosophy.

He was celebrated for his mastery in pottery carving (陶刻) — his strokes carried the grace of calligraphy and the power of engraving, making each piece a dialogue between form and spirit. His designs fused classical literati aesthetics with the simplicity of daily life, setting a benchmark for modern Zisha decoration.

Awards & Achievements:

- Multiple Gold Awards at National Arts & Craft Masters Exhibitions (1980s–2000s)
- Works “Noble Tea Set,” “Purple Jade Aroma,” “Source of Spring” – 1st Prize, National Ceramic Art Exhibition
- “Eternal Joy” and “Longevity Pot” – exhibited at Japan’s Mino International Ceramic Expo
- “Ancient Charm” and “Fragrant Tea” – Gold Awards at China National Masters Expo
- Engravings “Spring in Guilin” and “Plum Blossoms in Ink” – collected by the Palace Museum (Beijing)

Master Bao’s pieces are housed in Ziguang Pavilion, Zhongnanhai, The Palace Museum, and Nanjing Museum, and have appeared in both domestic and international exhibitions. His published monographs and solo exhibitions continue to influence generations of Zisha artisans.

Even in his later years, Bao Zhi-Qiang remained a gentle scholar-artisan — a “poet with a carving knife.” His passing in January 2024 marked the end of an era, but his artistry endures as the living memory of Yixing’s most refined cultural soul.