Master’s Cup-Shi Lei Weng Bamboo Form Cup (Xuyun Zen Gatha)

Shi Lei Weng · Hand-Painted Wood-Fired Teacups

Shi Lei Weng (Master Shi) is a senior Chinese cultural artist with over 30 years of calligraphy practice and artistic creation.

He is an invited artist of Ben Se Market and is known for his deeply personal aesthetic rooted in traditional Chinese culture.

In collaboration with Baiyun Teahouse, each teacup is:

• Fully hand-shaped and hand-painted
• Fired in a traditional wood-fired dragon kiln
• Naturally glazed by ash and flame over multiple days

Every piece is one of a kind. No two are ever the same.

Specifications

• Height: 4.4 cm
• Rim Diameter: 4.6 cm

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Form & Craftsmanship

This cup is shaped in the form of bamboo segments, symbolizing resilience, humility, and spiritual cultivation in Chinese culture.

The surface carries natural ash deposits from wood firing, creating unpredictable textures and tones.

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Hand-Painted Inscription (Original Chinese + English)

尝忆当初老赵州，年年此日卖风流。
山僧拈出重烹炼，烘烘热炉飞雪球。

English Translation:

I recall the old Master Zhaozhou,
year after year, freely expressing his spirit.
This mountain monk brings it forth again for refinement,
like snow flying from a blazing furnace.

Signed: Lei Weng

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Historical & Spiritual Context

This Zen gatha comes from 虚云老和尚, one of the most influential Chan (Zen) masters of modern China.

It was spoken during a traditional monastic tea gathering (Pu Cha) at Yunju Mountain.

The poem continues the lineage of Zen Master Zhaozhou, famous for the teaching:
“Go have tea.”

Symbolism within the poem:

• “Refining again” → spiritual cultivation through repetition
• “Blazing furnace” → the intensity of Zen practice
• “Flying snow” → both tea foam and awakened clarity

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Why This Cup Matters

This is not just a tea cup.
It represents a living Zen tradition where tea is used as a gateway to awareness.

Teacher Shi's Wood-fired Dragon Kiln & His Studio