Teapot translation help please

[abcdefg]

Went to Jianshui 建水 again recently and since I'm a sucker for teapots in the first place, and love this kind of dense 紫陶 clay in particular, couldn't resist buying one that I like a lot.

 

The saleslady was kind and told me what the inscription said, but like a fool I did not write it down right then. Was sure I would remember it, but now I don't. So that's the main thing I'm asking about.

 

The second thing I'd like to appeal for help with is the seal/chop on the bottom. I think the shopkeeper said it had something to do with where the pot was made or maybe even with the name of the store, since that store buys and distributes all of this maker's limited production.

 

Some history may or may not be helpful. This pot is made by an old master 老师傅 who now is over 70. His name is 黄兴国，and he has taught many younger students. His workshop is in a Jianshui suburb village nicknamed by locals 弯腰村 (not called that on a map.) I've been there previously, and it's only 20 minutes or so from Jianshui proper. 

 

The shape of this teapot is what is designated by collectors as a 如意壶。It is short and squat, with a graceful rounded belly. I have scribbled 余兴明 in my notebook in connection with this teapot, but no longer recall it's significance. Still, it may be a clue for someone who knows more about these things.

 

Appreciate any thoughts.

 

Here's some general information about this beautiful Jianshui pottery and its special material: http://hi.baidu.com/1968051/item/57e39015e6956b2df7625c58

 

[skylee]

學而時習之，不亦說乎。

http://ctext.org/analects/xue-er?searchu=%E5%AD%90%E6%9B%B0%EF%BC%9A%E2%80%9C%E5%AD%B8%E8%80%8C%E6%99%82%E7%BF%92%E4%B9%8B%EF%BC%8C%E4%B8%8D%E4%BA%A6%E8%AA%AA%E4%B9%8E%EF%BC%9F

[skylee]

I have scribbled 余兴明 in my notebook in connection with this teapot, but no longer recall it's significance.

The seal at the bottom says 餘興明制 (made by Yu Xingming). Either it is the master's style to use 餘 for 余 (this is most likely); or his surname is really 餘, not 余 (I have never seen 餘 as a surname); or he misunderstands that the traditional form of the surname 余 is 餘 (which seems unlikely).

PS - for this kind of things, the ability to understand the traditional script is important.

[abcdefg]

I'm amazed, impressed, and grateful. Thank you so much, Skylee!

 

So it is a phrase from the Analects. I had no idea. Totally missed that explanation. But Jianshui has a beautiful Confucian temple of which it is very proud. It's the largest in South China, and is only rated behind the main one in 曲阜Qufu, Shandong and another in Beijing. So it's not surprising that a local artisan would chose a quote from the Analects.

 

About the seal on the bottom, the shop assistant actually helped me write 余兴明 in my notebook, and it's possible that, between us, we got it wrong.

 

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/205040/8200291.html

[skylee]

Re the Analects.  It is a very common phrase.  I suppose everyone in China who has gone to school knows it (you know, those chengyu, idioms, classical chinese stuff that Chinese students have to learn).

[abcdefg]

啊，Skyleee, 你那么谦虚！

 

Not one educated Chinaman out of a hundred remembers such esoteric cultural references. At least I hope that's the case, or I will always lag behind even middle school kids in my ability to understand such things. I will remain a long-nosed barbarian.