A silver-gilded master cup (主人杯) with a Zen motif — the Wanfo (万佛) pattern of countless Buddhas — offered as a single cup or in gift-box and tea-set pairings. Three motifs and several box options, each sold on its own.
The Master Cup
In gongfu tea, the master cup (主人杯, zhǔrén bēi) is the cup the host keeps for themselves — larger than the small tasting cups passed to guests, and chosen with care because it will be held, rinsed, and refilled all through a session. It is the most personal piece on the tea table.
The Wanfo Motif
Wanfo means “ten thousand Buddhas” — the Chinese way of saying countless. The motif repeats the seated Buddha across the cup's surface, so the eye rests on a quiet, meditative field rather than a single image. It suits the cup's purpose: a small, steady object for slow mornings and unhurried tea.
Silver-Gilding
The cup is finished with 鎏银 (liú yín), a silver-gilded surface that catches the light as the tea moves. Against the ceramic the silver reads calm and cool — a quieter shine than gold, in keeping with the Zen mood.
Three Motifs
Choose from three designs:
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Wanfo (万佛) — ten thousand Buddhas
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Seven Bowls of Tea (七碗茶) — after the Tang poem by Lu Tong, in which seven bowls of tea carry the drinker from thirst to a kind of lightness
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Joy (喜乐) — a wish for happiness
The Options
Each piece is listed as its own option:
- Master cup in a color gift box (all three motifs)
- Wanfo master cup in a plain gift box
- Wanfo master cups, two-cup gift box
- Wanfo gaiwan + master cup
- Wanfo rattan-handle teapot + master cup
Care
- Hand wash to protect the silver-gilded surface
- Rinse with warm water and air-dry
- Avoid abrasive scrubbers and harsh detergents
A Quiet Cup
The master cup is tea's most private ritual — a cup no one else drinks from, kept for the person pouring. The Wanfo silver-gilded cup makes that ritual a little more deliberate: a field of Buddhas, a silver shine, and a slow morning to fill it.
