Preliminary Research On The Proto-porcelain Craft Characteristics On The Western Zhou Dynasty Unearthed In Shaanxi Province

The appearance of the proto-porcelain marked the beginning of porcelain making technology in China and provided the necessary material foundation and technological conditions for appearing of high quality porcelain which was considered to be ceramic science and civilization in China even all over the world on a milestone. Therefore the proto-porcelain’s research had been one of hot academic research content. Shaanxi region had a certain status during the history development of Chinese ancient ceramics civilization. In fact, in recent years, archaeological excavations also found a lot of proto-porcelain in the period of the Shang and Zhou dynasties, mainly for the Western Zhou period. For example lots of the proto-porcelain were unearthed from Yang Jiabao tomb, Pu Ducun tomb, Da Yuancun tomb, Zhang Jiapo site, Feng Chucun site and so on. But for the technological characteristics of the proto-porcelain unearthed in Shaanxi province and embryo glaze microstructure research were few research results. Therefore it was necessary to do some research on proto-porcelain on the Western Zhou dynasty unearthed from Shaanxi Province.In this paper, the proto-porcelain as the research object were collected from Zao Shugounao site, Zhang Jiapo cemetery, Zhou Gongmiao cemetery of Zhouyuan site and tombs in the Western Zhou dynasty in Shannxi Province. The proto-porcelain samples were examined by modern methods of science and technology. Based on the comprehensive analysis the proto-porcelain production process characteristics of the Western Zhou dynasty in Shaanxi Province was studied and also combined with literature review and typology.Comparing the test results of the three sites at the same time and the southern region of Western Zhou dynasty proto-porcelain test results were analyzed. and it showed that proto-porcelain body quality of Zao Shugounao site and Zhouyuan site were rough and had some not melted particles and pores; the glaze layer were uneven and distributes many bubbles. The results also showed that the raw materials of proto-porcelain body may use the Chinastone which contains more potassium and the plant ash should be added in the calcareous glaze; the manufacturing characteristic of the proto-porcelain found in these two sites were still at the primary stage in Chinese porcelain’s history.The quality of proto-porcelain body from Zhang Jiapo tomb was rough and had many no melted particles and pores; the glaze layer was thinner and exposed proto-porcelain’s body. The results showed that the raw materials of proto-porcelain body may use the kaolin soil which contains more potassium; The plant ash should be added in the calcareous glaze; This proto-porcelain production technology compared with the former two site was poor.