Ming Dynasty folk kiln blue and white porcelain painting

Author: Liang Jianming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-08-01
Features: China is the homeland of porcelain, with a long history of production. The porcelain created by the diligent and intelligent ancient ancestors played a pivotal role in promoting the development of social productivity and improving living standards, holding a position in the history of human development worldwide. At the same time, its long history has left behind a rich cultural heritage and historical information, providing vivid material evidence for the study of Chinese civilization. However, due to the fragility of porcelain, over time and through historical changes, these exquisite and practical pieces have often suffered wear and tear and varying degrees of damage, with their readability being somewhat compromised. Therefore, to accurately reproduce historical facts, the protection and research of unearthed fragmented porcelain pieces are particularly important.
Blue and white porcelain is a rare gem in the vast garden of ancient Chinese ceramics. It originated in the Tang Dynasty, matured in the Yuan Dynasty, flourished in the Ming Dynasty, and declined in the mid-to-late Qing Dynasty. The elegant and delicate blue and white porcelain is created using cobalt as the coloring material, with designs painted on the body before glazing, followed by high-temperature firing in a single process. As a result, the decorative patterns remain vibrant and colorfast over time, captivating people both in China and abroad for millennia. Especially the blue and white porcelain from the Ming Dynasty folk kilns in Jingdezhen not only possesses a profound artistic charm, lively paintings, and vibrant themes but also embodies deep historical significance, rich life connotations, serene cultural flavors, and strong folk customs. It is one of the national treasures of the Chinese nation and deserves to be cherished.
Yangzhou is a historically and culturally rich city with abundant cultural relics both above and below ground. Protecting this legacy left by our ancestors is an obligation for every citizen in the development of the economy, basic construction, and urban transformation. Additionally, rescuing and collecting folk handicrafts—blue and white porcelain fragments from various dynasties, which have been buried underground for centuries—is also a highly meaningful endeavor.
With the publication of Blue and White Porcelain from Ming Dynasty Folk Kilns, it will contribute to the study and exploration of the brilliant Chinese ceramic culture, promote the innovation of local culture in historical and cultural cities, and aid in the identification of folk kiln blue and white porcelain as well as the development of artistic creation.