Tea bowl in underglaze blue with the imperial poem "San-ch'ing"
Ch'ien-lung reign (1736-1795), Ch'ing dynasty
Height: 5.6 cm, rim diameter: 10.8 cm, base diameter: 4.7 cm

Buddha's-hand citron, plum blossom, and pine nuts are the main ingredients of San-ch'ing (Three Purities) tea.This tea bowl has a slightly flaring rim and stands on a round base. Along the top and bottom rim are "ju-i" bands in underglaze blue. On the body written in underglaze blue is the Ch'ien-lung emperor's poem "San-ch'ing Tea". Painted inside at the bottom also in underglaze blue are these Three Purities--plum blossoms, pine tree, and Buddha's-hand fruit. Underneath and written in blue are three lines of two characters each reading "Made in the Ch'ien-lung Reign of the Great Ch'ing". This tea bowl was especially made for the Ch'ien-lung emperor to drink his favorite Three Purities tea. It also comes in an overglaze red version and both are recorded in "Display Archives of Enamel, Glass, I-hsing, and Porcelain Wares".

The poem running along the outside was completed in 1746 upon the Ch'ien-lung emperor's return from an imperial inspection tour. After a snow, he had some snow melted to prepare Three Purities tea and then wrote this poem. The emperor enjoyed this tea on numerous occasions. Melted snow was used to brew plum blossoms, pine nuts, and Buddha's-hand, which were then infused with Dragon Well tea. The Ch'ien-lung emperor not only composed poetry but also had teapots and tea bowls specifically done for Three Purities tea. On one occasion at the end of a tea banquet, he presented Three Purities tea to officials. Other poetry by the Ch'ien-lung emperor indicates that this bowl was known as a "tea bowl with Three Purities poem". There were also Three Purities tea vessels in lacquer and carved red lacquer with this poem.