History of Chinese Ceramics (Illustrated Treasure Edition)

Author: Wu Renjing, Xin Anchao
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-04-01
Features: There have been few books on ceramics throughout history. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, there were occasional authors, but their works were disjointed and lacked a systematic approach, making them unsuitable as classic texts. As for books on the history of ceramics, none existed before this one. The authors considered it a "denial of one's roots" and a "great shame for the Chinese people." Thus, they set out to compile this work. They referenced dozens of sources, including ancient classics, official statistics, translated works by foreign authors, and personal records, categorizing and extensively compiling the information. Where gaps remained, they conducted field investigations to ensure accuracy and completeness. The book provides detailed and concise accounts of the origins of ceramics, the invention and types of porcelain in each dynasty, famous kilns, the evolution of glazes, the progress of decorations, renowned potters, and works on porcelain appreciation. The thousands of years of ceramic history in China, along with its rise and fall, are clearly presented in this book.
One of the authors, Wu Renjing, is from Boyang, Jiangxi, studied in Japan, and served as the principal of the Jingdezhen Private Eastern Art College. He was a long-standing art teacher at ceramic schools. Not only did he possess a modern and scientific perspective but he was also an expert in porcelain painting. He published a seminal work on porcelain painting titled The Art of Porcelain Painting, which was designated by the Ministry of Education as a vocational textbook.
"Porcelain" is the technical achievement of humans utilizing clay minerals, rocks, and other natural resources through firing. It has a very close relationship with the history of human civilization, especially the invention of porcelain and its brilliant achievements in craftsmanship and technology, which have made significant contributions to human life, self-cultivation, and culture. A "history of ceramics" is both a of the long development of national art and science and a true reflection of contemporary social life, cultural exchange, as well as politics and economics.
The authors considered it a "denial of one's roots" and a "great shame for the Chinese people." Thus, they set out to compile this work. They referenced dozens of sources, including ancient classics, official statistics, translated works by foreign authors, and personal records, categorizing and extensively compiling the information. Where gaps remained, they conducted field investigations to ensure accuracy and completeness. The book provides detailed and concise accounts of the origins of ceramics, the invention and types of porcelain in each dynasty, famous kilns, the evolution of glazes, the progress of decorations, renowned potters, and works on porcelain appreciation. The thousands of years of ceramic history in China, along with its rise and fall, are clearly presented in this book.
In the 18th century, when Chinese ceramics were popular in Europe, the Rococo art movement was flourishing there. Chinese ceramics, with their hard texture, elegant and subtle blue-white color, smooth and fine finish, well-proportioned forms, clear transitions, and artistic style characterized by brightness, grace, rigor, precision, and resilience, brought a refreshing breeze to European art, guiding European artists to rebel against the ornate, elaborate, stagnant, and rigid Rococo style of Baroque art. Takashi Komiyama once said: "The main features of Rococo art were entirely derived from Chinese craftsmanship. Therefore, this term 'Rococo' is ambiguous. It would be more meaningful and practical to call it 'Chinese French-style art.'"
This book is suitable for researchers or enthusiasts of Chinese ceramics, Chinese art history, traditional Chinese culture, advocates or critics of traditional Chinese culture, researchers or enthusiasts of Sino-Western cultural exchange history, as well as students at all levels.