Zhang Zaishou 章再守
Chinese Name: 章再守
Pinyin: Zhāng Zàishǒu
Born: August 1981, Datian County, Fujian Province, China
Known For: Dehua ceramics, ceramic sculpture, Jian-style teaware, and experimental mineral glazes
Studio: Taoyan Workshop (陶研工坊), Dehua
About the Artist
Zhang Zaishou (章再守) is a Fujian ceramic artist whose career spans traditional Dehua porcelain sculpture and more recent experimentation with Jian-style teaware and mineral-rich glazes.
Born in August 1981 in Datian County, Fujian Province, Zhang spent much of his life and career in Dehua, one of China’s historically important porcelain-producing regions. He graduated from the Dehua Ceramic Vocational and Technical School and developed experience across multiple areas of ceramic production.
After graduation, Zhang worked in ceramic product development before establishing Dehua County Taoyan Workshop Ceramics Co., Ltd. (德化县陶研工坊陶瓷有限公司) in 2011.
An official 2012 record from the Quanzhou Municipal People’s Government provides an early independent record of his professional career. Zhang was among the ceramic professionals whose qualification as Arts and Crafts Artist (工艺美术师) was formally approved. At that time, he was associated with Fujian Dehua Dongsheng Ceramics Co., Ltd. (福建省德化县东盛陶瓷有限公司).
From Dehua Sculpture to Teaware
Before becoming associated with Jian-style cups and experimental mineral glazes, Zhang was primarily known for Dehua porcelain sculpture.
His sculptural work draws heavily from Chinese history, Buddhism, and Chan-inspired themes. Published profiles describe his approach as combining traditional ceramic sculpture with a more natural and expressive treatment of the figures, emphasizing both physical form and the character or spirit of the subject.
Documented works attributed to Zhang include:
- 《渡江达摩》 — Bodhidharma Crossing the River
- 《齐白石》 — Qi Baishi
- 《诚心诚意线香炉》 — Sincere Incense Burner
- 《古莲座如来佛头》 — Buddha Head on an Ancient Lotus Seat
- 《西方三圣》 — Three Saints of the Western Paradise
- 《喜气福来》 — Auspicious Blessings Arrive
- 《弘一法师》 — Master Hongyi
- 《苏武牧羊》 — Su Wu Herding Sheep
- 《马到成功》 — Immediate Success
His Master Hongyi (弘一) sculpture was also reproduced in a 2018 Chinese article examining the history and contemporary development of Dehua white porcelain.
Awards & Recognition
2012
Zhang’s professional qualification as an Arts and Crafts Artist (工艺美术师) was formally approved by the Quanzhou professional-title authorities.
2013
According to Zhang’s artist materials and published biographical information, 《喜气福来》 (Auspicious Blessings Arrive) received a Gold Award at the 7th China (Hefei) International Cultural Expo and the 2013 China Arts and Crafts Fine Works Expo.
2015
Zhang’s artist booklet records 《释迦牟尼佛》 (Shakyamuni Buddha) as receiving a Gold Award in an international arts and crafts innovation and design competition associated with the Guangzhou International Arts & Crafts Expo.
His work 《苏武牧羊》 (Su Wu Herding Sheep) received First Prize in the ceramics category of the Second Quanzhou Arts & Crafts Innovation Design Tiangong Award (天工奖).
This award can be independently confirmed through the official results published by the Quanzhou Municipal People’s Government.
Professional Titles
Zhang’s artist materials record the following professional titles and recognitions:
- 2016 — National Ceramic Industry Technical Expert (全国陶瓷行业技术能手)
- 2016 — First-Class Ceramic Decoration Worker (陶瓷装饰工一级)
- 2018 — Fujian Province Arts and Crafts Master (福建省工艺美术大师)
- 2020 — Fujian Province Ceramic Art Master (福建省陶瓷艺术大师)
- 2023 — Listed in his artist materials as a National Gift Artist (国礼艺术家)
His booklet also records a 2023 designation translated approximately as Global New Elite Ingenuity Artist (全球腾新锐匠心艺术家).
Because the issuing organizations and criteria behind some promotional titles can vary, these later designations are presented as they appear in Zhang’s artist materials rather than treating every designation as equivalent to a government-awarded professional title.
Museum & Institutional Collections
Published biographical material reports that several of Zhang’s sculptures entered institutional collections.
- 《弘一法师》 Master Hongyi
- 《苏武牧羊》 Su Wu Herding Sheep
- 《马到成功》 Immediate Success
These works are reported as having been collected by the Quanzhou Museum.
Master Hongyi is additionally reported as entering the collection of the Fujian Art Museum’s Intangible Cultural Heritage exhibition collection.
Zhang’s accompanying artist booklet provides additional collection history. It states that in January 2017 his purple-clay work Master Hongyi was collected by the Fujian Art Museum’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Center.
The booklet states that in December 2017 Su Wu Herding Sheep was collected by the Ningxia Immigration Museum.
Mineral & Gemstone Glazes
An especially distinctive aspect of Zhang Zaishou’s more recent ceramic work is his experimentation with naturally occurring minerals in glaze formulations.
The artist booklet accompanying his teaware illustrates or discusses several mineral materials:
- 松石 — Turquoise
- 玛瑙 — Agate
- 麦饭石 — Maifan stone
- 青金石 — Lapis lazuli
- 黑曜石 — Obsidian
Another page of the booklet states:
采用建盏原矿石（赤铁矿）
“Uses original Jian ware mineral ore (hematite/red iron ore).”
The booklet describes incorporating mineral material into the glaze while attempting to preserve the fluid characteristics and artistic appearance of the finished glaze.
Commercial descriptions of Zhang’s ceramics sometimes describe him as “宝石入釉创始人”, approximately “originator of incorporating gemstones into glaze.” However, Fifty Shades of Clay has not located sufficient independent historical documentation to establish that Zhang was literally the first ceramic artist to use gemstones or similar minerals in ceramic glazes. For this reason, we treat this as an artist or commercial claim rather than an independently verified historical distinction.
Jian-Style Work
Although Zhang’s professional foundation lies in Dehua ceramic art rather than the historical Jian kiln tradition, his later work explores the dark, iron-rich glaze vocabulary associated with Jian ware.
The artist booklet’s emphasis on hematite/red iron ore, together with its documentation of various minerals used in his glaze experiments, indicates a deliberate exploration of mineral composition as an aesthetic component of his contemporary teaware.
This distinction is important when discussing Zhang within the context of Jianzhan. He should not simply be described as a traditional Jianyang potter. His documented background is broader: a Dehua-trained ceramic artist and sculptor who later expanded his work into Jian-style teaware and experimental mineral glazes.
Career Timeline
- 1981 — Born in Datian County, Fujian Province.
- 2011 — Established Dehua County Taoyan Workshop Ceramics Co., Ltd.
- 2012 — Qualification as an Arts and Crafts Artist formally approved by Quanzhou authorities.
- 2013 — Auspicious Blessings Arrive receives a Gold Award according to published biographical and artist materials.
- 2015 — Su Wu Herding Sheep receives First Prize in the ceramics category of the Second Quanzhou Arts & Crafts Innovation Design Tiangong Award.
- 2016 — Artist materials record recognition as a National Ceramic Industry Technical Expert.
- 2017 — Several works are reported as entering museum or institutional collections.
- 2018 — Artist materials record Zhang receiving the title Fujian Province Arts and Crafts Master.
- 2020 — Artist materials record Zhang receiving the title Fujian Province Ceramic Art Master.
- 2023 — Additional cultural and artistic honors are recorded in his artist booklet.
Collector Notes
Collectors may encounter Zhang Zaishou’s name attached to works that look considerably different from one another. This reflects the breadth of his documented ceramic career.
His work includes Dehua white porcelain sculpture, Buddhist and historical figures, purple-clay works, teaware, and experimental mineral glazes. The contemporary dark-glazed cups associated with his name therefore represent only one part of his larger body of ceramic work.
His name is written:
章再守
Pinyin: Zhāng Zàishǒu
References & Further Reading
Quanzhou Municipal People’s Government
Official 2012 professional-title record listing Zhang Zaishou among those approved as Arts and Crafts Artists.
View Quanzhou Government Record
Quanzhou Municipal People’s Government
Official results of the Second Quanzhou Arts & Crafts Innovation Design “Tiangong Award,” documenting Zhang Zaishou’s Su Wu Herding Sheep as a First Prize winner in the ceramics category.
View Official Tiangong Award Results
Huaxia Craftsmen / Sohu — January 15, 2019
Chinese-language profile of Zhang Zaishou containing biographical information, artistic background, selected works, awards, and collection information.
Read Zhang Zaishou Profile
China Fortune — July 2018
Article discussing Dehua white porcelain and contemporary ceramic artists, including Zhang Zaishou’s Master Hongyi (弘一).
Read Dehua White Porcelain Article
Primary Source: Zhang Zaishou Artist Booklet
The artist booklet accompanying Zhang’s work documents his stated career history, professional titles, awards, institutional collections, mineral materials, glaze concepts, and artist signature.
Research Note
Information on this page has been compiled from Chinese government records, published Chinese-language sources, and original artist materials. Where an award or professional qualification has been independently located in government records, the corresponding source is provided above. Other honors and claims originating from the artist’s accompanying materials are identified as such rather than presented as independently verified facts.
This distinction reflects Fifty Shades of Clay’s commitment to documenting Jianzhan and Chinese ceramic artists as accurately and transparently as possible.
