Chinese ancient bowl

Author: Yao Jiangbo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-08-01
Features: In the history of porcelain production, porcelain bowls shine like dazzling stars. This is because bowls are the primary utensils for eating, especially during childhood. The history of bowls spans thousands of years, dating back to the dawn of human civilization. However, the bowls used in primitive society were not the porcelain bowls we see today. The emergence of ancient porcelain bowls was a late development, and strictly speaking, true porcelain bowls only appeared in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. Therefore, before the late Eastern Han Dynasty, people used various types of bowls with diverse shapes and names, but one thing remained unchanged—their function as food containers. As a result, in every historical period, any vessel that served this purpose should be referred to as a bowl. For example, during the Shang and Zhou dynasties, the bronze guis used by the upper class for dining were clearly functional bowls, as people sat on the ground and used them to take food. This book explores bowls from different periods, shapes, and materials, introducing the bowls that people once used in the bygone eras. The emphasis of this book is on the development of ancient porcelain bowls from ancient times to the present. In the writing process, two principles were followed: first, to be truthful—only writing what is certain and avoiding vague statements; second, to be comprehensive—not focusing on a single point or period, but rather tracing the origins of bowls from their inception in China to the Qing Dynasty.