White porcelain is a traditional Chinese ceramic category, alongside celadon, blue-and-white porcelain, and colored porcelain. It is characterized by low iron content in the clay body and is fired under a transparent glaze, resulting in a pure white finish.
The earliest known white porcelain was discovered in the Dong Han tomb in Changsha, Hunan. However, more advanced examples emerged during the Northern Wei period in Anyang, Henan, around 575 AD. Mature white porcelain, however, only became widespread during the Sui Dynasty. A notable example is the white porcelain found in the tomb of Li Jingxun in Shaanxi Province in 608 AD, which showed a high degree of whiteness and smooth glaze without the greenish tinge sometimes seen in earlier pieces.
During the Tang Dynasty, white porcelain reached its peak, with numerous kilns producing it across northern China, including the Quxing, Quyang, Gongxian, Hebi, Mixian, Dengfeng, Jixian, Xiangyang, and Anyang kilns. Among these, the Xingyao kiln was particularly renowned, often compared to the Yueyao kilns in the south, leading to the saying “Nanqing Beibai†(Southern Celadon, Northern White). The Daxie kiln in Sichuan was also highly praised by the poet Du Fu, though its exact origin remains unclear.
In the southern region, white porcelain production was less common during the Tang Dynasty, though Guangzhou did produce some. The white porcelain of this era was exceptionally white, and to enhance its appearance, potters sometimes applied a layer of slip before glazing. By the middle to late Tang period, many high-quality blanks were used directly, reducing or eliminating the need for slip, resulting in thin, smooth, and translucent wares.
During the Five Dynasties, white porcelain production remained largely concentrated in the north, with many kilns from the Tang era continuing operations. Notable ones included the Quyang, Hebi, Yaozhou’s Huangbao Town, and Yuhua Palace kilns. Many tombs from this time contained white porcelain marked “official,†mostly from the Hebei Quyang and Liaobai kilns.
Jingdezhen’s five-generation kiln site represents the earliest known white porcelain production area in the south. During the Song Dynasty, the Quyang kiln in Hebei became famous for its white porcelain, while kilns in Shanxi, such as Jiexiu, Jixian, Pingding, and Yangcheng, also produced fine white wares. Some kilns in Sichuan, like Pengxian, imitated Tang-era styles, and there was confusion about their origins. In Henan, some kilns also made white porcelain alongside black and white designs. In Fujian, Dehua began producing white porcelain during the early Southern Song, and by the Yuan Dynasty, Jingdezhen achieved success in firing pure white glazes, which greatly influenced Ming Dynasty white porcelain.
Ming Dynasty’s Yongle period saw the creation of "sweet white" glaze, considered the pinnacle of white porcelain history. Though blue-and-white and colored porcelain became more popular, pure white porcelain continued to be valued. Today, Dehua’s white porcelain is world-renowned for its milky, translucent quality, often described as “lard color†or “ivory white.â€
White glaze is a natural result of low-iron porcelain clay and glaze. When iron content is below 0.75%, the glaze turns white after firing. Ancient potters didn’t add artificial coloring agents but instead selected materials with minimal iron. This allowed for the creation of high-whiteness white porcelain. The earliest known white porcelain comes from the Fanzi Tomb in the Northern Dynasties, marking the beginning of China’s white porcelain tradition.
“Sweet white†glaze, developed in the Yongle period at Jingdezhen, features a warm, jade-like white that gives a soft, pleasing appearance. This innovation paved the way for the vibrant colors of later Ming and Qing porcelain. Even in the Qing Dynasty, sweet white glaze was still produced, with Kangxi-era versions appearing as milk-white and radiant.
Another variation is “blue-white glaze,†also known as “shadow green.†Developed in the early Northern Song, it features a thin, clear white glaze over carved patterns, with a slight bluish tint at the edges. This style flourished in the Southern Song, centered around Jingdezhen, and spread to Other regions like Anhui, Fujian, and Hubei. By the Yuan Dynasty, the glaze took on a slightly bluer tone, losing some of its clarity.
Ivory white, characteristic of Ming Dynasty Dehua kilns, is known for its purity due to low iron and balanced potassium content. Under light, it appears bright and milky, with a faint pink or white sheen, earning it names like “goose down white†or “Chinese white†among Europeans.
White porcelain, with its simple elegance, has long been cherished for its natural beauty. From the Tang Dynasty to the Ming and Qing periods, it evolved through various techniques and styles, leaving a lasting legacy in Chinese ceramics.
Wall Plugs And Screws
Wall Plugs And Screws ,Plastic Screw Plugs,Screwfix Rawl Plugs ,Plug Socket Screws
Kunshan Zhonggu Precision Hardware Co., Ltd. , https://www.zgfastener.com