There are no two identical leaf cups, just as there are no two identical leaves in the world.
BEIJING, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The making of a leaf cup, a traditional craft endemic in today's Ji'an County, is special -- the artisan has to integrate a leaf into the porcelain ware being worked on. Wu Yingshan, an inheritor of the leaf cup making techniques, started to study on porcelain in 2003. With the development of bulk production, the traditional ways to make leaf cups are in gradual decline. Worrying about that decline, Wu decided to revive the craft. After spending several years checking data and visiting famous ancient kilns, Wu finally remade his own leaf cups in 2006, and succeeded in the traditional craft after eight years of trying. Besides, Wu stresses the passing down of the craft. He sets up a porcelain studio named "Yingshantang" where he teaches skills to students who are interested in the art. For him, "the traditional craft has to move forward with the time, and also should not be forgotten in the modern world."
Craftsman Wu Ying displays a leaf cup at his studio in Ji'an County, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Hu Chenhuan)
Craftsman Wu Yingshan places mulberry leaves onto the cups before he arranges them into a kiln at his studio in Ji'an County, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Wan Xiang)
Craftsman Wu Yingshan makes a leaf cup at his studio in Ji'an County, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Hu Chenhuan)
Photo taken on June 10, 2020 shows leaf cups displayed at Wu Yingshan's studio in Ji'an County, east China's Jiangxi Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Haobo)
Craftsman Wu Ying displays a leaf cup at his studio in Ji'an County, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 10, 2020.
(Xinhua/Hu Chenhuan)
Craftsman Wu Yingshan makes a leaf cup at his studio in Ji'an County, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 10, 2020.
(Xinhua/Wan Xiang)
Craftsman Wu Yingshan fires leaf cups with traditional methods at his studio in Ji'an County, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Wan Xiang)
Craftsman Wu Yingshan picks mulberry leaves for leaf cup making near his studio in Ji'an County, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Wan Xiang)
Craftsman Wu Yingshan glazes a leaf cup at his studio in Ji'an County, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 9, 2020.
(Xinhua/Hu Chenhuan)
Craftsman Wu Yingshan arranges raw leaf cups into a kiln at his studio in Ji'an County, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Hu Chenhuan)
Craftsman Wu Ying displays leaf cups at his studio in Ji'an County, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 10, 2020.
(Xinhua/Wan Xiang)
Craftsman Wu Yingshan makes a leaf cup at his studio in Ji'an County, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 10, 2020.
(Xinhua/Zhang Haobo)
Craftsman Wu Yingshan makes a leaf cup at his studio in Ji'an County, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 9, 2020.
(Xinhua/Zhang Haobo)
Craftsman Wu Yingshan makes a leaf cup at his studio in Ji'an County, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 10, 2020.
(Xinhua/Zhang Haobo)
Craftsman Wu Yingshan checks a leaf cup at his studio in Ji'an County, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 10, 2020.
(Xinhua/Wan Xiang)
Craftsman Wu Yingshan walks out of his studio in Ji'an County, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 10, 2020.
(Xinhua/Wan Xiang)
A visitor examines a leaf teapot at Wu Yingshan's studio in Ji'an County, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Hu Chenhuan)
Craftsman Wu Yingshan dries cups at his studio in Ji'an County, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 9, 2020.
(Xinhua/Hu Chenhuan)
Craftsman Wu Yingshan reads a book near his studio in Ji'an County, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 15, 2020.
(Xinhua/Wan Xiang)
Craftsman Wu Ying demonstrates with a leaf cup at his studio in Ji'an County, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Wan Xiang)
Producers: Wang Jianhua, Li Xingwen
Photographers & Cameramen: Hu Chenhuan, Wan Xiang, Zhang Haobo
Planners: Zhu Weixi, Wang Haijing, Wang Qingqin
Editors: Xie Ziyi, Yu Yang, Li Mangmang, Chen Liqun
Video Editor: Tian Wei Wei
