刘
Liu Haitong
刘海粟
1896–1994 Republic, Modern Dynasty The century-spanning keeper of clay
Biography
Liu Haitong lived through one of the most turbulent and transformative centuries in Chinese history — from the final gasps of imperial China through revolution, war, and into the modern era. A Yixing artisan spanning the Republic and Modern periods, he would have witnessed Zisha pottery navigate the tension between preserving ancient craft traditions and adapting to a rapidly changing world. With a remarkable lifespan of nearly a century, his hands likely told the story of an entire era in clay.
Key Contribution
Living through nearly 100 years of Chinese history, Liu Haitong represents the enduring thread of Yixing craftsmanship that carried traditional Zisha techniques across the upheaval of the Republic era and into the modern age.
Referenced in the Book
p. 341p. 342p. 343