The Wonderful World of Ceramics

Five-color Porcelain

Ceramics, the general art of heating common clay to create ornamental objects like pottery and porcelain, which is derived from pottery. The history of Chinese ceramics dates back some 8,000 years with the crafting of hand-molded earthenware vessels.

Chinese primitive tribes began making artifacts with clay as early as 8,000 years ago. The Yangshao Culture was noted for its distinctive pottery painted with flowers, fish, animals, human faces and geometric designs. Although the origin of porcelain techniques is unknown, it is believed that primitive porcelain ware emerged in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and the Yellow River during the Shang and Zhou dynasties (16thcentury � 221BC). Real porcelain ware appeared during the Han Dynasty (206BC - AD220).

Celadon or qingci

Celadon porcelain, together with black porcelain, was mainly produced during the Han Dynasty and continued to develop in the later dynasties. In the late Tang Dynasty (618-907), celadon porcelain production techniques matured and were manufactured on a large scale. The Tri-color pottery also reached its peak during this period. At the same time, white porcelain, which appeared in the late Northern and Southern Dynasties (386-589) and sounds like musical instruments when tapped, reached its peak.

The ceramic industry of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the third most prosperous period of the Chinese feudal society, reached an unprecedented height. Porcelain kilns with vivid regional features had spread all over the country, forming the “six kiln factions” and “five famous kilns”. The “six kiln factions” were thedingkiln faction,junkiln faction,yaozhoukiln faction,cizhoukiln faction,longquankiln faction andjingdezhenkiln faction. The “five famous kilns” were theguankiln,rukiln,gekiln,dingkiln andjunkiln.

The Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) saw a continued rapid development of the ceramic industry. Blue and white porcelain, which emerged in the Tang and Song dynasties, reached its maturity. The porcelain capital Jingdezhen emerged, which was famous for its blue-and-white porcelain, red under-glazed porcelain and egg-white porcelain. Great achievements were made in the production of the colorant glaze. Prior to the Yuan Dynasty people had fewer color choices.

Tri-color Tang Pottery

Chinese ceramic-making reached its artistic peak during the latter part of the 15th century (Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644), largely due to the discovery of a new glazing technique called "five-color porcelain". This new method stirred the imaginations of artists by allowing them to use many different colors on porcelain after it had been baked. Hence, more complicated pictures -- human figures, religious scenes and landscapes -- began to replace earlier themes of flowers and fish on porcelain.

The early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) witnessed the peak of Chinese ceramic production, with all ceramic types radiating their influence worldwide.

In the process of ceramic development, different styles of different periods blossomed over the centuries.

Blue-and-white Porcelain

Celadon, orqingci, of the Tang Dynasty, has a subtle, bluish-green glaze and ischaracterized by simple and elegant shapes. It was so popular that production continued at various kiln centers throughout China well into the succeeding dynasties, and was shipped as far as Egypt, Southeast Asia, Korea and  Japan.

Tri-color Tang Pottery, or T ang Sancai, of the Tang Dynasty was named after the bright yellow, green and white glazes that were applied to the earthenware body. They not only appeared in such traditional forms as bowls and vases, but also in the more exotic guises of camels and Central Asian travelers, testifying to the cultural influence of the Silk Road.

Blue-and-white Porcelain, first produced in the Yuan Dynasty, was baked at an extremely high temperature and characterized by the purity of its kaolin clay body. It reached its golden era in the Ming Dynasty, coming to represent the virtuosity of the Chinese potter.

Five-color Porcelain

Five-color Porcelain of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties was usually fully covered with colorful patterns. Colors included red, yellow, light and dark green, brown, aubergine and under-glazed blue. Actually, there were more than five colors.

Chinese ceramic art has long played an important role in foreign exchange. Pottery and porcelain have been exported from early periods. During the Song Dynasty, large quantities of porcelain were exported via the Silk Road.

After the birth of New China in 1949, social stability led to the revival of the ceramic industry, regaining its previous glory and greater recognition both home and abroad.