Tea figurines or toys (chachun) | 茶宠

Tea figurines (Chinese: 茶宠, pinyin: cháchǒng) are believed to bring success, prosperity, finances and happiness. They occupy a place of honor on the tea board and are directly involved in the tea ceremony. Tea figurines are used during ceremonies for various purposes, but most often as decoration. These can be animal figurines, zodiac figures, Chinese mythical creatures, funny characters. A tea pet becomes part of the daily practice of tea drinking, because with the first infusion it absorbs the wonderful aromas of tea and accumulates positive energy. Figurines made of clay vary in shade, shape, ability to change color under the influence of hot water, as well as various additional tricks that they can perform, such as the well-known "pissing boy". In China, tea figurines are believed to bring good luck, success, prosperity, finances and happiness. Therefore, as symbols of the tea spirit, they are always offered the first infusion of tea. If you regularly pour tea on your figurine, over time it will smell exactly like tea, and the rough surface of the tea figurine will become smoother and glossier.