Jiangponi (降坡泥) is one of the youngest names in Yixing clay. Unlike zini or zhuni, it has no centuries-long history, and it is thinly documented: almost everything written about it comes from the trade, and sources often copy each other. This guide sticks to what several independent sources agree on, and lays out the rest as open questions.
What jiangponi is
The name. Jiangponi means "lowered-slope clay". The ore was found by chance in the early 1990s, when a hillside was cut down to build Taodu Road between Dingshu and Yixing city.
Where. It is mined from the slope where Huanglong Mountain meets Qinglong Mountain in Dingshu, Yixing.
What kind of ore. Most sources describe it as a naturally co-occurring ore containing red clay (hongni), duanni or green clay, and a little purple clay — not a man-made blend. (A minority classify it differently; see below.)
Texture. It has a clearly granular body. After firing, red, yellow and other coloured specks are scattered over an orange-red or red-yellow base.
Red, yellow and qing jiangpo
Sellers commonly divide jiangponi by colour. Red jiangpo fires red with a yellow cast, with yellow grains showing on the surface — "yellow dots on red". Yellow jiangpo is mainly yellow with a red cast — "red dots on yellow". Qing jiangpo is described by fewer sources, as leaning greenish with small yellow grains.
The fired colour is not fixed: it varies with the seam, the mineral mix and the firing temperature, from yellow-brown to red-brown. Some sources link the colour to which side of the seam the ore comes from, and rank red above yellow and qing — but that ranking rests on fewer sources.
In use
Several sources say jiangponi "breathes" well and shows a patina after fairly little use, with a soft sheen. No source gives test data, so treat these as claims. Tea suggestions vary: pu-erh is suggested most often, with others naming oolongs or black tea.
What sources disagree on
Which family it belongs to. Most sources call it a co-occurring ore of hongni and duanni with a little zini. Others call it an equal three-way mix, and one group classifies it under zini with slight zhuni traits.
Numbers. Firing temperatures are given as about 1180°C, 1140–1220°C, 1150–1200°C and lower. Shrinkage is given as about 12% by some, and as "extremely large" by others.
Which colour is "right". One view holds that only red-with-yellow is true jiangponi; another calls that too simple.
Whether it has run out. Some sources say the small deposit ended once the road and surrounding development were built; others say it is not rare. One source warns that the claim "all jiangponi on the market is fake" goes too far.
Imitations. Several sources do agree that man-made "jiangponi" exists — made by blending clays, adding sand or even dyeing.
Jiangponi pots in our catalogue
We currently have 48 pots recorded under jiangponi names:
| Clay name (as recorded) | Pots in stock | Capacity range |
|---|---|---|
| Jiangponi | 29 | 75–208 ml |
| Red Jiangponi | 7 | 90–220 ml |
| Qing Jiangponi | 10 | 65–130 ml |
| Yellow Jiangponi | 2 | 50–120 ml |
See them all in our Jiangponi Yixing Teapots collection.
A note on names: clay names in our catalogue are recorded as the maker or supplier gives them. We have not laboratory-tested the clays, and this guide does not certify any pot's ore.
Other clay guides: Zhuni, Zini, Duanni, Jiangponi. For an overview of all clay names, see Yixing clay types and colours; for shapes, start with the Xishi and Shipiao guides.