A History of Ceramics, Half in Zhejiang "takes you into the story of Zhejiang celadon that spans thousands of years

Celadon is the earliest variety of porcelain, and Zhejiang is the hometown of celadon, as well as the main production area of celadon in the ancient world. Yue kiln is also the most famous celadon kiln series in ancient China, with glaze colors resembling jade and ice, exquisite shapes, and numerous artifacts. The development history of Yue kiln can be traced back to the primitive porcelain production in the Shang and Zhou dynasties. In the Eastern Han dynasty, Yue kiln produced mature celadon. After that, it experienced a period of great development in the Three Kingdoms, Two Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, the heyday of the Sui, Tang, and Five Dynasties, and gradually declined by the middle of the Northern Song dynasty.

During the Spring and Autumn Period, Shaoxing, Shangyu, and Yuyao in Zhejiang Province were the political and economic centers of the state of Yue. After Qin unified the country, it belonged to Kuaiji Commandery, and during the Sui and Tang dynasties, it was called Yuezhou, hence the name "Yueyao".

As early as the Eastern Han Dynasty, about two thousand years ago, the people of the Yue region utilized the abundant porcelain clay, wood, and water resources there to produce mature porcelain with a good degree of ceramicization, strong bonding between the body and glaze, and crisp sound when struck at high temperatures ranging from 1220 to 1270 degrees Celsius.

Since the creation and firing of celadon in the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Yue kiln has never stopped for more than a thousand years from the Six Dynasties, Sui, Tang to Song Dynasties. During this period, it has formed two peaks. One was in the late Western Jin Dynasty to the early Eastern Jin Dynasty, when Yue kiln celadon stood out in Jiangnan and other places; Another time was during the late Tang and Five Dynasties period, when there were numerous porcelain kilns in the Yue kiln area. Zhuji, Shaoxing, Zhenhai, Yinxian, Fenghua, Linhai, Huangyan and other counties successively established porcelain kilns, and Yue kiln celadon officially formed an independent system, eventually forming a pattern of "southern green and northern white" with Xing kiln white porcelain nationwide. In the south, celadon porcelain represented by Yue kiln is famous worldwide, while in the north, white porcelain represented by Xing kiln is well-known both domestically and internationally.

Primitive celadon aromatherapy from the Warring States period

Eastern Han Yue Kiln

The Eastern Han Dynasty was the early stage of Yue kiln celadon, and the successful firing of celadon was the inevitable result of the technological development and accumulation of primitive porcelain in Zhejiang region. The celadon products of this period are in line with the original porcelain in terms of molding and firing processes, showcasing both antique simplicity and simplicity everywhere.

Three Kingdoms Yue Kiln

The Yue kiln products from the Three Kingdoms period had a solid and fine texture, with mostly light gray bones, uniform glaze layer, clean glaze, and simple early decorative patterns such as water ripples, string patterns, and leaf vein patterns. In the later period, decoration tended to be complex, with diagonal grid patterns and the use of stacking methods. Objects can be divided into daily necessities and Ming ware.

Yue Kiln of Western Jin Dynasty

The porcelain industry of Yue kiln in the Western Jin Dynasty saw a sharp increase, and the porcelain industry gradually prospered. At this time, the body of celadon produced was relatively thick, the color of the body was dark and gray or dark gray, the glaze layer was thick and even, and the glaze color was mainly green gray. The decoration was exquisite and complex, using carving, stacking and other decorative techniques. Later, brown and colored decorative techniques appeared. Objects were still mainly daily necessities and burial items, and smoking stoves were important products during this period.

The Tang and Five Dynasties periods were the heyday of Yue kiln development, representing the highest level of celadon, especially the so-called "secret color" porcelain, which was a very eye-catching product of Yue kiln celadon at that time.

In the late Tang Dynasty, porcelain production represented by the Shanglinhu Yue kiln had reached its peak, and porcelain making technology had reached a stage of perfection. There are a wide variety of products, exquisitely crafted, and beautifully shaped. In the late Tang Dynasty, the successful firing of secret colored porcelain represented the highest level of porcelain production at that time.