The chaos time between the Ming and Qing Dynasties didn't have any negative effect on the Zi Sha technology. The Zi Sha industry in Yixing still thrived when the Dynasty changed.

The most famous Zi Sha master in the early Qing Dynasty was Chen Mingyuan. His advantage was carving on the Zi Sha tea pots, his technique was combined with the art of painting and calligraphy. He had many good friends who were also famous scholars, especially Yang Zhongne in Haining County. He made many tea pots particularly for Yang Zhongne, including some of his best products.

During the Yongzheng and Qianlong Eras (1723-1795) there were many famous Zi Sha makers such as Chen Hanwen, Yang Jichu, Zhang Huairen, Chen Ziwei, Yang Pengnian, Yang Fengnian, Shao Daheng, Zhu Shimei and Wu A'Kun. They all had their special characters with their tea pots. During the time of the Taiping Rebellion, the Zi Sha industry in Yixing was almost totally destroyed. When the rebellion was eventually pacificated, the production of Zi Sha was resumed by the quality was not as good as before because only a few Zi Sha masters survived during the rebellion.

In the late Qing Dynasty the Zi Sha industry thrived again in Yixing. The Yixing Zi Sha was in its early stage of industrialization. Some factories existed in the city where a few dozens to several hundreds of workers worked there. There were also some Zi Sha business agents acted as the traders between the manufacturers and the customers.

In the Qing Dynasty, there were many antique hunters coming from the rich or noble families. In order to cater for their requirement, the Zi Sha makers archaized their products and resembled the tea pots to the shape of ancient bronze containers and potteries, therefore their tea pots was very welcome by the high social class. Many Zi Sha pots were also collected by the royal family.

Zi Sha was also exported to many other countries. It was firstly brought by Portuguese to Europe in the late Ming Dynasty. It was called the 'Red Earth' or 'Red Porcelains' by the European people. Zi Sha was also sold to Japan. After the Opium Wars many archaized Zi Sha tea pots were produced and purchased by the foreign collectors. In 1816-1911 there were many Zi Sha stores in Shanghai, Jiangsu and Hangzhou areas.
 

Background Knowledge: History of China

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