Chinese Porcelain: An Epic of Ceramic History

China, the ancient oriental country known as the "Land of Porcelain," was the first country in the world to invent porcelain. The invention of porcelain, considered China's "fifth great invention," not only reached its peak in technology and art but also profoundly influenced the ceramic and cultural development of various countries around the world. In English, the word "china" itself carries the meaning of "China," which is enough to prove the importance of Chinese porcelain in world culture.

The Origin and Evolution of Porcelain

The history of Chinese porcelain can be traced back to the mid Shang Dynasty in the 16th century BC. The early porcelain that appeared at that time was called "proto porcelain" because its body and glaze were relatively rough and the firing temperature was low.

The true "porcelain" was born in the Han Dynasty. After continuous development in the Tang and Five Dynasties, Chinese porcelain entered a period of vigorous development in the Song Dynasty. The five famous kilns of Ding, Ru, Guan, Ge, and Jun are even more famous throughout the ages. In the Yuan Dynasty, the emergence of new varieties such as blue and white and underglaze red added new brilliance to porcelain. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, on the basis of inheriting the tradition, porcelain paid more attention to exquisiteness and gorgeousness, especially during the Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong periods, and many amazing masterpieces appeared.

Necessary Conditions for Porcelain Firing

Porcelain is developed from pottery. Its firing needs to have three conditions at the same time:

• Raw materials: porcelain stone, porcelain clay or kaolin rich in quartz and sericite and other minerals.
• Temperature: high temperature above 1200℃.
• Glaze: The surface of the ware is coated with a glaze fired at high temperature.

Famous Porcelain with Distinctive Characteristics

There are many kinds of Chinese porcelain, among which the most famous are:

• Blue and white porcelain: A representative work of Jingdezhen in the Yuan Dynasty, famous for its fresh and elegant style. ( 青花瓷 qīng huā cí )

• The five famous kilns: The Ding, Ru, Guan, Ge, and Jun kilns in the Song Dynasty, each with a unique artistic style. ( 定、汝、官、哥、钧 dìng, rú, guān, gē, jūn )

• Doucai porcelain: Created in Chenghua of Ming Dynasty, the underglaze blue and white is combined with the overglaze colored drawing, and the color is bright. ( 斗彩 dòu cǎi )

• Famille rose porcelain: Created in Yongzheng of Qing Dynasty, the color is soft and full of three dimensional sense. ( 粉彩 fěn cǎi )

• Famille rose enamel porcelain: Created in Kangxi of Qing Dynasty, it absorbed the techniques of copper tire painting enamel, and the color was gorgeous. ( 珐琅彩 fà láng cǎi )

The Influence of Porcelain on the World

Chinese porcelain is not only the pride of China but also an important part of world culture. It spread all over the world through the Silk Road and had a profound impact on the ceramic production and cultural development of other countries. To this day, Chinese porcelain is still a treasure that museums and collectors around the world are vying to collect.