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Handmade Bamboo Tea Table Runner Mat for Gongfu Cha & Tea Rituals

£65.00
£65.00
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青玉案 茶席 Qing Yu An Celadon Jade Table Tea Mat

Drawing from Song dynasty aesthetics and the poetic spirit of Xin Qiji’s Qingyu An, this Qingyu Bamboo Tea Mat evokes a quiet elegance rooted in classical Chinese tradition.

Meticulously handwoven from arrow bamboo splits and tightly bound with fine cotton thread, the piece reflects centuries-old techniques once reserved for making imperial curtains (御簾 yù lián). The result is a lightweight, flexible mat with a natural lustre, refined yet understated, making it suitable for all seasons and compatible with a wide range of teaware styles from rustic stoneware to polished porcelain.

Finished with a plant-based lacquer using the traditional wiping technique (大漆 The Grand Lacquer, dà qī), the surface is both breathable and durable. Its grid-like weave offers a grounded presence for teaware, calligraphy, or incense, making it a graceful base for daily rituals or contemplative moments.
    Recipe Recommendation

    Handwash with cold water and love. To protect the integrity of the bamboo and lacquer finish, avoid pouring boiling water directly onto the mat.

    Cultural Significance

    1. 大漆 is a traditional lacquer derived from the sap of the Chinese lacquer tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum), prized for its durability, sheen, and protective qualities. Used for over 7,000 years, it has been applied to wood, bamboo, and ceramics in both everyday objects and imperial artefacts.

    In Chinese culture, 大漆 symbolises patience, endurance, and harmony with nature—each coat requiring time to cure in specific humidity. It embodies the principle of working with time and the elements, not against them.

    2. Qingyu An is the name of a poetic form from the Song dynasty, most famously used by the patriot-poet Xin Qiji in his ci poem 《青玉案·元夕》. The poem evokes a scene of refined solitude and timeless beauty during the Lantern Festival, with imagery centred around elegance, restraint, and inner clarity.

    By referencing “Qingyu An,” this tea mat carries the spirit of literary elegance, quiet refinement, and the aesthetics of the scholar’s table. In this atmosphere, tea, poetry, and contemplation naturally meet.

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