Artist Q&A … 匠人问答

1. What firing method do you primarily use? Why did you choose this method?

Answer:
At present, I primarily use electric kiln firing. Only electric firing can fully bring out the advanced and refined side of Jian Zhan. High-level Jian Zhan is what contemporary craftsmen pursue. The core of Jian Zhan lies in the glaze … it must fully reduce the iron elements in both the mineral glaze and the clay body. Only when this is properly achieved can it be considered a truly good cup.

中文：
我目前基本上以电烧为主。电烧才可以把建盏的高级一面烧出来，只有高级的建盏才是当代建盏匠人所追求的。因为建盏的核心釉面是要把矿石跟胚土里面的铁元素充分还原出来，才算是一只真正的好盏。

2. Do you personally prepare the clay, throw the forms, and trim the pieces? Which stages do you always complete yourself?

Answer:
I believe the core skill of Jian Zhan lies in the firing process. Firing is what truly defines a craftsman’s representative work … each successful “kiln treasure.” I personally select and refine the clay, and I select the mineral materials myself. These are core aspects of Jian Zhan. As for throwing and trimming, I do less of that myself due to time constraints. Specialized craftsmen handle those steps, but I teach them the essential technical standards.

中文：
我认为建盏的核心技艺是烧制，烧制才是真正可以把建盏做到匠人的代表作品、每个窑宝。练泥、选泥跟选用的矿石也是我自己做的，也是建盏的核心。至于拉坯与修坯我自己做得比较少，也没有时间去做，基本上都是给专门拉坯修坯的工人去做；在他们做的时候，我会把核心的技术教他们去做。

3. What are your standards when selecting clay and glaze materials?

Answer:
Clay and mineral glaze materials are central to Jian Zhan craftsmanship, so material selection is extremely important. The specific mountain and location where the clay and minerals are sourced makes a significant difference … different areas produce completely different results. Both clay and mineral materials are non-renewable resources. Once they are depleted, they are difficult or impossible to replace. Because of this, high-quality Jian Zhan will only become rarer and more valuable over time.

中文：
建盏烧制跟泥料、矿釉都是建盏核心工艺，所以这些都是很讲究的。选泥料跟矿石的山是非常重要的，不同的位置区别是完全不同的。泥料跟矿石是不可再生资源，用完之后很难再有任何地方可以取代。所以建盏之后只能是越来越少，越来越值钱。

4. Do you personally formulate your glazes? Are they part of your core formula?

Answer:
Glaze formulation is a core skill for every craftsman. My glaze formulas were developed through tens of thousands … even hundreds of thousands … of experiments and verifications. Each glaze surface is the result of carefully refined proportions, and every finished piece is unique.

中文：
釉料的调配一定都是每一位匠人的核心技能。我的釉料是通过几万、十几万次的实验与验证调配出来的，每一个建盏的釉面都是独一无二的配比效果。

5. During firing, what key factors do you value most?

Answer:
The firing process must be strictly controlled and standardized. The rate of temperature increase, the duration of heat retention, and the degree of reduction must all be carefully regulated at every stage.

中文：
建盏的烧制过程都非常严格规范。升温速度时间、保温的时间长短、还原的量，每个过程都要严格控制。

6. How do you determine whether a piece meets your standards? How do you classify different levels?

Answer:
Grading is closely related to the glaze surface. For the styles I focus on … seven-color and Yao Bian … I evaluate the quality of color presentation, tonal harmony, and the structure and condition of the iron crystal formations. These factors determine whether a piece is considered high quality.

中文：
建盏的等级标准跟釉面有很大关系。我烧七彩跟曜变的标准是比较好的色彩展现、釉面的色调搭配；然后铁系晶体结构与状态也可以判断这个盏的好与不好。

7. In your creative process, do you pursue stable results, or do you embrace natural kiln transformation?

Answer:
A truly high-quality Jian Zhan must pursue stability in presentation. If the results rely entirely on unpredictable kiln transformation, that would be wood firing. Stable and controlled results are what define high-quality Jian Zhan.

中文：
一只真正好的高品质的盏一定是追求稳定的呈现。如果完全靠窑变化带来的自然变化，那就是烧柴烧了。稳定的状态是建盏的高品质才有的。

8. Which series or glaze style do you consider your most representative work?

Answer:
In terms of glaze ranking, Yao Bian is the most difficult to form, the most difficult to fire, the most beautiful, and the hardest for a craftsman to master. I pursue the most challenging path. My representative glaze style is Yao Bian.

中文：
那要说我们建盏釉面的等级了。建盏最难形成的也是曜变，最难烧的也是曜变，最漂亮的也是曜变，匠人最难做到的也是曜变。我是追求最难做的事情去做，我的代表性釉面就是曜变。

9. What do you hope collectors will understand or value about your work in the future?

Answer:
Collectors should treat every high-quality Jian Zhan with care and respect. Truly fine pieces will only become rarer and harder to encounter in the future.

中文：
收藏家们其实每一只好的建盏都需要认真的对待与珍惜它。好品质的建盏以后只会越来越少，越来越难看到。