History
of
Chinese
Ceramics
In the beginning, there were pots...
It
has been established that the Chinese created some of the
worlds first Ceramics eight thousand years ago with the
fashioning of hand-molded Earthenware containers. In the late neolithic times, the potter's wheel was developed enabling a
dramatic advancement in
EARTHENWARE
CERAMICS.
The
sophistication of early Chinese potters is irrefutably
demonstrated by the famed terracotta warriors uncovered by
archaeologists in the tomb of Emperor Qin (259-210 BCE).
Then,
there was colour
Over
the centuries, China maintained its dominant position as the
world's preeminent producer of Ceramics as countless new technologies and styles
were developed. One of the most important was the TRI-COLOUR
STONEWARE of the Tang dynasty (618-907
CE), named after the
bright yellow, green and white glazes. This
period also marked the first wide-spread use of ceramic as a
decorative medium of art.
The
Celadon Innovation
Another type of
pottery that developed during the Tang period was Qingci, known
more commonly to English speakers as
CELADON. This
style often has a greenish glaze and is usually simply but
elegantly shaped and decorated. Celadon
was so successful that production continued in China for
centuries and was traded widely throughout the known world.
White
Becomes Fashionable
During
the Song dynasty (960-1279 CE), WHITEWARE
CERAMICS became a dominant
form. The style became one of the most successful Ceramic types
ever produced in China and was widely traded throughout
Southeast Asia. One form
of Whiteware that became particularly popular as a traded
Ceramic was Qingbai
which literally means bluish-white ware and has a jade-like
texture.
Blue
and White
Conquers
the World
BLUE
AND WHITE PORCELAIN was first created during the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368
CE). Fired at higher temperature than Earthenware, Porcelain
is characterized by a glass-like finish of its whitish
clay body. Potters
of the later Ming dynasty (1368-1644 CE) advanced the art of Blue and White
Porcelain to such a degree that most people today
think of the style as uniquely Chinese.
Chinese
Ceramics
Reach
a Zenith
The Qing period
(1644-1911 CE) was the last of the imperial dynasties and saw
innovative MULTI-COLOURED
PORCELAIN designs that reached a new peak in
popularity, particularly in the west.
Chinese
Dynasty Timeline
Asian
Ceramics are usually dated according to the reigns of Chinese
dynasties when the artifacts were produced. Below are
listed the more important dynastic periods of Chinese history.
漢
朝
Han Dynasty
Western Han (206
BC - 24 AD)
Eastern Han (25
AD - 220 AD)
三
國
Three Kingdoms Period
(220
AD - 280 AD)
晉
朝
Jin Dynasty
Western Jin (265
AD - 316 AD)
Eastern Jin (317 AD - 420 AD)
南
北 朝
Southern and Northern Dynasties
Northern Dynasties (386
AD - 581 AD)
Southern Dynasties (420 AD - 589 AD)
隋
朝
Sui Dynasty
(581
AD - 618 AD)
唐
朝
Tang Dynasty
(618
AD - 907 AD)
五 代 十
國
Five Dynasties and Ten States
Five Dynasties
- Later Liang (907 AD - 923 AD)
- Later Tang (923 AD - 936 AD)
- Later Jin (936 AD - 946 AD)
- Later Han (947 AD - 951 AD)
- Later Zhou (951 AD - 960 AD)
宋
朝
Sung Dynasty
(960
AD -1279 AD)
元
朝
Yuan Dynasty
(1271
AD - 1368 AD)
明 朝
Ming Dynasty
(1368
AD - 1644 AD)
清 朝
Qing Dynasty
(1644
AD - 1911 AD)
Go to the
Chalre
Collection
of
Asian Ceramic Art
|