Zisha teapot Duo Zhi, handmade by Studio Craftsmanship LIAO Fei Qiang,Zi Ni

Shape Duo zhi （Stacked Ball 掇只）

The Duozhi teapot, created by the renowned Yixing master Shao Daheng, draws its inspiration from a traditional container used in Yixing for condiments and candies, known as "duozi". Over time, it came to be referred to as "duozhi", as the pronunciation of "zi" has shifted in modern Mandarin. 

In the realm of Yixing pottery, connoisseurs often liken the Duozhi teapot to its counterparts, the Lian Zi（lotus seed ）and the Duo Qiu (stacked ball). 

The Lian Zi teapot is among the earliest designs to emerge, dating back to the reign of Emperor Yongzheng in the Qing Dynasty, or even earlier. Its original form mimics the structure of lotus seeds, with each layer stacking atop the next, symbolizing the traditional Chinese notion of "continuous birth of sons", signifying perpetual renewal and prosperity. 

The Duozhi teapot is a refined adaptation of the Lian Zi teapot, characterized by the removal of the ears beneath the lotus seed handle and the transformation of the lid into a double layer. Some suggest that this evolution stemmed from the stacking of objects, hence the name "duozhi".  

Subsequently, Yixing masters Feng Youting and his disciple Cheng Shouzhen raised the neck of the Duozhi teapot, altered the lid to a more semi-circular shape, and rounded the knob, resembling three stacked balls, hence termed as "duoqiu". However, the exact chronology of the duozhi and duoqiu teapots remains unclear. 

The Duozhi teapot boasts a simple and elegant design, with a lustrous and full-bodied appearance, exuding understated sophistication through its concise lines. Esteemed Chinese master Gu Jingzhou once lauded the creator of the Duozhi teapot, Shao Daheng, as a pinnacle figure in Yixing pottery artistry, whose creations epitomize mastery and refinement, leaving an indelible mark on the craft.