Photo shows JinYue'an, a ceramic kiln director, demonstratesthe traditional vat-makingtechniques, Dec. 24, 2016. (Xinhua)
By a river surrounded by verdant hills on three sides,
Lies a city where porcelain ware and kilns abound.
Along the banks of the tranquil Changjiang River, the raging flames of the kilns have been ablaze for a thousand years.
China, china!
Jingdezhen was established as a township in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420), named asXinping. It was also known as "Changnan" (literally “south of the Changjiang River”) because of its location, and the word "china" just happens to be the transliterated derivation of "Changnan" in English. "China" with the first letter in uppercase represents the nation, while "china" with a lowercase "c" means porcelain. It would appear that "china" and "China" are intricately bound.
The "nation of china (porcelain)" has long been synonymous with the Chinese nation, and porcelain is deemed a creation with the most distinctive Chinese cultural elements. This indissoluble bond between china and China, and Changnan and China, has imbued the porcelain of Jingdezhen with a unique, romantic charm.
Perhaps it was blessings from Heaven, but this town has almost never been subjected to the havoc of war throughout its long history. And that might be the reason why handmade porcelain has become a consummate skill over time in this town.
In 1004, Zhao Heng, Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), was so captivated by the mellow, glossy and exquisite bluish white porcelain made here that he bestowed the title of his reign "Jingde" to this small town which has been "richly endowed with right materials to make the best ceramics". Since then, Jingdezhen's fame has spread far and wide.
Since the Song and Yuan (1271-1368)dynasties, Jingdezhen has become the undisputable porcelain capital of the world, a workshop for royal and national porcelain wares, and the most important porcelain production base for exports. Large batches of exquisite porcelain wares have made their way to every corner of the world from this small town.
A Lasting Legacy of Perfecting Craftsmanship
"A lump of clay after 72 processes in the hands of a master craftsman becomes a great ware." The 72 steps for making porcelain are brought into full play here. Open and inclusive, Jingdezhen embraces the accomplishments of famous kilns and the essence of the craftsmanship from near and far in such an unrestrained manner that "craftsmen flock here from far and near, making ceramic wares for the world over". This has also won Jingdezhen porcelain a worldwide reputation of: being white as jade, clear as a mirror, and thin as paper, with the sound of a chime.
Photo shows an eggshell porcelain teacup made by porcelain craftsmen in Jingdezhen, Oct. 19, 2019. (Xinhua)
Porcelain wares are fragile, but its culture is robust and tenacious. This town has witnessed ceramic making for more than 2,000 years, including over 1,000 years for official kilns, and more than 600 years for imperial kilns. The ups and downs of the ceramic making industry it has witnessed now constitute the backbone of the second half of the Chinese history of ceramics, and has contributed to the profound cultural heritage of Jingdezhen.
The unquenchable flames of the kilns make for a lasting legacy in ceramics. The artistry of porcelain, continuously refined and improved with each firing, has attained perfection because craftsmen from generation to generation have been on watch and taken bold steps to experiment and develop their skills. The passion for and adoration of porcelain and the porcelain industry are deeply engrained in the DNA of the people of Jingdezhen, and permeate every corner of this town. For Jingdezhen, porcelain is its bone and flesh, its root and soul.
The Time-honoredPorcelain Capital Takes Flight again
A new era presents new opportunities to those who are prepared. The new priority for the ancient porcelain capital is to "build a national pilot zone for the inheritance and innovation of the ceramics culture, and forge a new platform for cultural exchanges with the rest of the world".
Draw a blueprint for a grand prospect. This small town has a solid footing: it has a history of embracing the world for a millennium. Centered on innovation and driven by reform with culture as its soul, Jingdezhen is now highly motivated to explore a new and distinctive path of development with global significance, Chinese values and the characteristics of the new era.
Whether mottled bricks from ancient kilns or new black-tech devices in smart workshops, primitive and dignified royal kiln factories or the dynamic and vibrant creative space at Taoxichuan, "Jingdezhen drifters" or "Jingdezhen returnees" – all cherish the dream of generations of people who aspire to revitalize this millennium-old ancient town and to reshape the porcelain capital of the world. Jingdezhen has never ceased to create wonders and astonish and dazzle the world.
This is a new beginning, and Jingdezhen, one of the "oldest industrial citieson the planet", is all ready to set sail, and will again show the world its dazzling radiant splendors. (Contributed by Shi Chunjiao, edited by Jiang Feifan with Xinhua Silk Road)
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