On Yaozhou Porcelain

In the history of Chinese poterry and porcelain, Yaozhou Kiln, located in Tongchuan City, Shaanxi Province, is praised as highly unique. Originated in Tang Dynasty and with the advantage of being close to Beijing area, Yaozhou Kiln developed extraordinarily rapidly, manufacturing Tri-color pottery for the imperial at that time and then producing something similar to celadon in Yue Kiln. In Song Dynasty, it even created Huaqing Porcelain, the masteipiece in the history of pottery and porcelain, which fully presents the endless wisdom and creative spirit of the craftsman.Last December, with deep esteem, I paid a visit to Yaozhou to study and explore Huangbao Kiln and Chenlu Kiln subjecting to Yaozhou Kiln, listening respectfully to some experts and craftsman's introduction and guidance, which helped us have a better and deeper understanding of the high status of Yaozhou Kiln in historical evolution and history of Chinese pottery and porcelain.As we all know that Chinese porcelain was invented in southern China. It is recorded that proto-porcelain was invested in Shang Dynasty, 3000 years ago and in East Han Dynasty craftwork flow and skill of porcelain producing have been mastered successfully and jade green color porcelain was made. Porcelain manufacturing has seen a rapid development during Three Kingdoms, Jin Dynasties, Southern and Northern Dynasty. Kilns appeared in Jiangsu Province, Zhejiang Province, Fujian Province, Jiangxi Province, Hunan Province, Hubei Province and Sichun Province and kilns producing outstanding celadon with Yue Kiln as a representative could be found anywhere in Southern China.Comparing with Southern China, porcelain manufacturing started later in Northern China. Actually like other kilns in the north, Yaozhou Kiln initially mainly produced white and black porcelain, even low-temperature tri-color wares.On the way to maturity, on one hand, Yaozhou Kiln learned from domestic kilns, especially Yue Kiln, to outdo all others in celadon and on the other hand, absorbed nutrition from abroad to form its own style gradually. The grow up of Yaozhou Kiln, changed the pattern of Chinese porcelain of "celadon in the south and white in the north".Song Dynasty is the heyday of Chinese feudal society and has seen frequent exchange with foreign counterparts. The Western Region culture, the Central Asian Islamic culture, even the Indian Buddhism culture, all exerted a subtle influence on the daily life of central Chinese. The objects that used by the foreigners were subjected to be admired and copied by Yaozhou Kiln, which left a deep impression on many objects produced by Yaozhou Kiln.At that time because of the prosperity of cities and culture, Chinese porcelain manufacturing entered a period of blossoming freely: five imperial kilns, namely Ding Kiln, Ru Kiln, Guan Kiln, Ge Kiln and Jun Kiln, reflect and shine mutually and eight folk kilns, named Ding Kiln, Jun Kiln, Yaozhou Kiln, Ci Kiln, Yue Kiln, Jian Kiln, Jingdezhen Kiln, Longquan Kiln, vie with each other for glamour. As a sole system and famous kiln in the north, Yaozhou Kiln became the best representative of Northern celadon with massive production of celadon without any debate with the characteristics of printing and engraving. Lu You even compared the celadon in Yaozhou Kiln as the Secret Color Porcelain in Yue Kiln in book of "Notes of Laoxue House", which is a very high remark on the celadon in Yaozhou Kiln as the Secret Color Porcelain is generally recognized as the best in the Tang Dynasty.