Alchemy and Porcelain: Europe's Stunning Reversal

China's Jingdezhen porcelain was once the "Oriental White Gold" sought after by European nobles. To crack its production process, Europeans tried every means, from alchemists to commercial spies, and a legendary cultural game began.

The Mystery of Porcelain: The Temptation of Oriental White Gold

In the 14th century, Marco Polo brought Chinese porcelain back to Europe, and the exquisite porcelain amazed Europeans. In the 16th century, with the opening of the Far East trade route, a large amount of Jingdezhen porcelain poured into Europe, becoming a sought-after luxury. However, China's strict confidentiality of the porcelain production process and control of export volume made the price of porcelain remain high.

The Alchemist's "Counterattack": The Birth of European Porcelain

Faced with high prices, Europeans tried to crack the porcelain production process, but were repeatedly frustrated. It was not until the early 18th century that the emergence of the German alchemist Johann Friedrich Böttger broke the deadlock.

Böttger was originally imprisoned by Augustus II due to rumors of "turning stone into gold." At the suggestion of the mathematician Ehrenfried von Tschirnhaus, Böttger began to study the production process of Chinese porcelain. After years of hard work, they finally succeeded in firing the first piece of porcelain in Europe in 1708 - "Böttger stoneware."

The French Missionary's "Undercover": The Loss of Chinese Porcelain Skills

However, the quality of German porcelain is still different from that of Chinese porcelain. In order to completely crack the secret of Chinese porcelain, the French missionary Francois Xavier d'Entrecolles turned into a "commercial spy" and lurked in Jingdezhen for decades.

In 1712 and 1722, d'Entrecolles sent two letters successively, detailing the production process of Jingdezhen porcelain, including raw material ratio, forming and firing steps. These two letters dealt a heavy blow to China's porcelain export trade, and porcelain factories in European countries rose rapidly.

Cultural Game: The Inheritance and Innovation of Chinese Porcelain

Although the production process of Chinese porcelain was "cracked" by Europe, the status of Chinese porcelain in the world has not been shaken. Today, on the basis of inheriting traditional skills, Chinese porcelain continues to innovate and develop, and complements the porcelain art of various countries in the world.