汲古修绠 井养无穷

The Well Teapot

'古者穿地取水,以瓶引汲,谓之为井。'凿井取水之法,使先民们得以摆脱对地表水源的依赖,改变逐水草而居的游牧生活,在广阔的内陆定居下来。'凿井而饮,耕田而食',完成了文明的一次跨越。在漫长的农耕社会里,井是聚落的核心,是供养生命的源泉,也是最具乡思的物象。《易经》'井卦'寓'君子修德,终始无变之象',马致远《汉宫秋》有'背井离乡,卧雪眠霜'的无尽苍凉.

In the Tang Yun Art Gallery by the West Lake,there is a Mansheng Well Teapot collected by Shanghai-school painting master Tang Yun.As one of the'Eight Teapots',its appearance and inscription are closely linked with the cultural connation of the'well',which has a metaphorical meaning of modesty and is thought-provoking.Tang Yun’s collection of Mansheng Teapot is based on the principle of'collection for use'and he treats those teapots as his friends and often gains inspirations from them.