My father retired and while organizing the house, we found this gift from a local business partner during his time stationed in China as president of a Chinese subsidiary. Since I don't really have many opportunities to drink Chinese tea, I'm offering it to someone who would like it. Dehua, like Jingdezhen, is famous as a production area for ceramics. Also, the inscription "国賓礼" (Guó bīn lǐ - State Guest Gift) indicates it was a gift for an important guest. (For a sense of size, please refer to the 4th photo. I placed it next to a sushi restaurant's teacup.) ・What is Dehua Kiln? Ceramics from Dehua, Fujian Province, China. A traditional ceramic production area in Dehua County, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province, China, also known as Dehua Kiln (Tokkako). It is said to have particularly flourished during the Ming and Qing dynasties, producing white porcelain commonly called "Bai Gaoli" (White Goryeo). The beauty of the white porcelain from the Ming dynasty is especially remarkable. While Buddhist statues and incense burners from this era are also of high artistic value and are wonderful, tea ware and small miscellaneous vessels also fully convey their beauty. The production area continues to this day, but as time has passed and the raw materials have changed, modern Dehua ceramics are uniformly fired (in gas kilns, etc.) without the interesting earthy texture. ・Peonies, which have been loved as the "King of Flowers" since ancient times, are lavishly depicted. Text: 粉香雲暖露華新 暁日濃熏冨貴春 (Reading) Fun kō, kumo atatakaku, tsuyu hana arata nari. Akatsuki no nōkun, fūki no haru. (General Meaning) In the warm air where the scent of powder drifts, the dew is beautiful and fresh. In the spring when the smoke rises thickly at dawn, the peony flowers have bloomed.