What is Jian Zhan, and why is it so popular and expensive?

The Jingzhen Tea Bowl has not been famous for a long time.

A Southern Song Dynasty Jianyao "Oil-Spot" Tenmoku Tea Bowl sold for an incredible 11.7 million USD (almost 80 million RMB) at Christie's New York's autumn 2016 auction, setting a new world auction record for such objects.

Following that, Jianyao became well-known very fast.

Along with the well-known teas Da Hong Pao, Zhengshan Xiaozhong, Fuding White Tea, Anxi Tieguanyin, and Fuzhou Jasmine Tea, Jianyao was part of the VIP gift set during the Xiamen Summit in 2017 with the theme "Five Teas and One Bowl."

It came as no surprise that Jianyao gained public attention and grew in popularity following this.

Jianyao has experienced a number of significant turning points in its history. The Song Dynasty saw the height of Jianxi official kilns, and following the Song's downfall, the Jianyao discreetly flourished outside of China for generations.

The black-glazed tea bowl is a prime example of the Jianyao kiln, which first appeared in the late Tang and Five Dynasties, peaked during the Song Dynasty, and then began to decrease during the Yuan Dynasty.

Although black-glazed porcelain has been produced in China for a long time, Chinese people did not value these ceramics for a long time. The historical apex of black-glazed porcelain production did not occur until the rise of Jianyao.

During the Song Dynasty, the body and glaze of Jianyao black-glazed porcelain achieved an unparalleled level of influence. It became the symbol of black-glazed ceramics and spearheaded the national trend of black-glazed tea bowls at the time. Jianyao was loved by everyone, including commoners, scholars like Cai Xiang, and Emperor Huizong of Song.

Even though drinking practices changed and Jianyao gradually lost popularity in China after the Song Dynasty, it remained highly valued in neighboring Japan, where it was recognized as a national treasure. Furthermore, Jianyao collections can be found in prestigious museums in the United States, the United Kingdom, and other nations.

This proves that Jianyao is a very valuable object for collectors.

The "Yao-bian" tea bowl, designated a national treasure by the Japanese government in 1953, is on display at the Fujita Art Museum in Japan.

The Song-style Jianyao tea bowl was successfully revived after hundreds of years of production halting, thanks to state financing and the research of numerous institutes and specialists. The State Council acknowledged the "Jianyao Porcelain Production Technique" in 2011, and it was included to the third group of the country's list of intangible cultural assets.

Modern craftspeople can now produce Jianyao items like "Oil Spot" and "Rabbit Hair" that surpass the original Song era pieces in terms of shape and personality. The "Yao-bian" glaze is still difficult to master, nevertheless.

And why do Jianyao bowls cost so much?

The procedure from raw material to final product is quite challenging, much like making rock tea. Furthermore, market values are not a reliable indicator of anything of creative and cultural value.

Every Jianyao creation is one-of-a-kind. Since they can never foresee how the fired bowl will turn out, the artists always approach the kiln with eager expectation, even if the formula, craftsmanship, and time are all the same.

It's similar to being a first-time parent in that you may know the child's gender but not the child's appearance. The Jianyao firing method has a certain beauty that comes from its unique features.

There are innumerable tea bowls in this big world, but it's a unique and priceless experience to locate one that you genuinely love.

This translation maintains the original tone, cultural richness, and historical depth of the text. Let me know if you need any adjustments!