Archaeological excavations reveal that as early as the Song dynasty (10th century) potters near Yixing were using local "zisha" (紫砂 or 紫泥 ; literally, "purple sand/clay") to make utensils that may have functioned as teapots.
Yíxīng teapots are actually made in nearby Dīngshān, also known as Dingshu,[REF] on the west side of Lake Tai [REF].