Jingdezhen Tuanhua Gong Dao Bei – 200 mL

This fairness cup (gong dao bei) is fully handcrafted in Jingdezhen, China’s famed “porcelain capital.”
Its surface is decorated with traditional Chinese floral motifs, painted using the famille rose (fencai) enamel technique.

A fairness cup is used to control consistency when serving tea.
After pouring from a teapot or gaiwan, the liquor is gathered and mixed in the cup before being served to each guest.
This ensures that everyone enjoys tea with the same strength, flavor, and temperature.
The name “fairness cup” carries the idea of equality and respect—every guest is treated the same.

Material: Porcelain
Capacity: 200 mL
Dimensions: Height 7.7 cm; Max diameter at top: 9 cm

What is Tuanhua?

Tuanhua, also known as “ball-flower patterns,” doesn’t refer to any specific flower.
Instead, it’s a decorative style where flowers, fruits, and geometric elements are arranged within a circular outline, forming a compact “ball-like” motif.
The earliest versions date back to the Shang dynasty, appearing on bronze and white pottery.
By the Yongzheng period of the Qing dynasty, tuanhua became widely used in imperial porcelain—especially in famille-rose ware—and later spread to folk kilns, becoming a beloved decorative style.

Tuanhua designs are known for their lively, free layouts.
Circles of different sizes are arranged in seemingly casual yet harmonious compositions—sometimes single, sometimes overlapping in pairs or groups of three.
Often paired with colors like white, black, and celadon white, they create a light, balanced visual effect.
These motifs are commonly used on porcelain, clothing, and furniture, symbolizing reunion, prosperity, and completeness, carrying blessings of good fortune.