Longdan Yixing Teapot: Shape, Origin and 7 Real Examples

September 24, 2026

Longdan Yixing teapot in Luni clay, 160 ml

The Longdan (龙蛋), or "dragon egg", is one of the plainest and oldest Yixing forms: an upright, egg-shaped body with a lid cut flush into it, a short spout and a large ring handle. It has changed so little over the centuries that it is often held up as a traditional shape in its original state.

This guide covers what defines the Longdan, how it differs from similar shapes, what is known about its origin, and our seven Longdan, listed at the end.

What defines the shape

An upright egg. The body is a vertical oval — narrower at the top, fuller below — smooth and unadorned.

A cut-off lid. Most Longdan use a lid set flush into the body, so lid and body read as one continuous egg. The knob is either a flat-round bead or a small conical, mushroom-like cap.

Close-up of the flush cut-off lid and knob of a Luni Longdan teapot — No. 126 — Longdan, Luni clay, 160 ml, by Fan Weibing. The lid line runs around the egg without breaking its outline.

A short spout and a big ring handle. The spout is short and direct (sometimes a small cone) and pours briskly. The handle is a large, inverted ring that is easy to hold.

Longdan, Wendan and Xishi

These three are often confused. The Longdan is a pure, tall egg with a big belly and a small mouth. The Wendan is lower and more restrained. The Xishi has a distinct "shoulder and neck" where the Longdan simply continues its curve.

Ming-style Longdan teapot in Zini clay with an elongated egg body — No. 440 — Longdan, Zini clay, 140 ml. A Ming-style Longdan with a noticeably taller egg.

Where it comes from

The Longdan is dated to the late Ming and early Qing. It is said to have existed in the Ming dynasty, but the first clear written record comes from the Kangxi period, in Wu Meiding's Yangxian Mingbi Fu. Some sources suggest Shi Dabin or Xu Youquan as its creator, but there is no firm evidence, and most treat it as a traditional form with no known author.

Sizes and clays: sources vs our catalogue

Sources say the Longdan is most often made in zhuni, Dahongpao or other red clays, with zini also seen, and that its big belly and small mouth hold heat well for aromatic teas. Common capacities are about 150 to 240 ml.

Ours are smaller: 60 to 160 ml with a median of 120 ml, and only two fall in that 150–240 ml band. Two are in red clays (Zhuni and Dahongpao) and two in zini (Zini and Aged Zini). The rest are in Luni, Jiangponi and Baiyu Duanni.

60 ml Zhuni Longdan teapot — No. 365 — Longdan, Zhuni clay, 60 ml. Our smallest Longdan.

160 ml Longdan teapot in Jiangponi clay held in hand — No. 104 — Longdan, Jiangponi clay, 160 ml, by Gu Peijun.

How to check a Longdan

The egg should be unbroken. From every side, the outline should run smoothly from base to knob. A visible step at the lid line spoils it.

Lid off. Because the mouth is small, check how the lid seats and look at the opening size — it affects how easily you can fill and clean the pot.

Zhuni Longdan teapot with the lid removed — No. 365 — Longdan, Zhuni clay, 60 ml.

Handle. The ring should be large enough for a comfortable grip and should balance the spout.

Clay-painted Longdan teapot in Aged Zini clay held in hand — No. 345 — Longdan, Aged Zini clay, 100 ml. A clay-painted fulu (gourd) Longdan.

All 7 Longdan pots in our catalogue

Every pot below has a full photo set on its product page. Click a number to see photos, price and availability.

No.	Variant (as recorded)	Clay	Capacity	Craft	Maker
126	Longdan	Luni	160 ml	Fully handmade	Fan Weibing
218	Longdan	Dahongpao	120 ml	Fully handmade	Qin Changming
440	Ming-style Longdan	Zini	140 ml	Fully handmade	Workshop potter (unnamed)
365	Longdan	Zhuni	60 ml	Fully handmade	Workshop potter (unnamed)
331	Fulu Longdan, clay-painted	Baiyu Duanni	100 ml	Clay-painted	Workshop potter (unnamed)
345	Fulu Longdan	Aged Zini	100 ml	Clay-painted	Workshop potter (unnamed)
104	Linglong Longdan	Jiangponi	160 ml	Fully handmade	Gu Peijun