Recent Progress in Archaeological Excavations of Porcelain in China Sun Xinmin The porcelain, same as the Four Great Inventions, papermaking, compass, gunpowder and printing, is one of the greatest contributions that the Chinese people have made to the human civilizations. For this reason, the porcelain is called °∞China°± in the English language and it has already become another name of China today. The development in the craft of the Chinese pottery and porcelain can roughly be divided into five stages: the origin of the early pottery in the Neo-lithic Period, the successful firing of the primitive porcelain in the Xia and Shang Periods, the origin of the southern celadon glaze in the Han and Jin Periods, the breakthrough of the northern white-glazed porcelains in the Sui and Tang Dynasties and the prosperity of the color-glazed and painted porcelains from the Song to Qing Dynasties. Many new breakthroughs have been made in the porcelain archaeology in China for the recent twenty years. First, the new archaeological discoveries came one after another and many important ancient kiln sites have been discovered and excavated, revealing the advanced porcelain manufacturing technology and firing technology in ancient China. Thousands of well-preserved porcelains have been unearthed from the tombs of the noble families, bases of pagodas and cellars, showing us the exquisite shapes and complicated decorations of the Chinese porcelains. Second, great progress and achievements have been made in the field of the underwater archaeology in China and many sunken ships have been discovered and excavated in the Bo Sea, Yellow Sea and the South Sea. These ships have an amazing cargo of porcelains which reveal the prosperity of trade during the periods from the Northern Song Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty. Third, new scientific and technological methods have been applied to the archaeology. In the past, Shanghai Ceramics Institute of China Science Academy is the only one which was capable of chemical analysis and micro-structure analysis. Today, the High-energy Physics Institute of China Science Academy, Shanghai Museum, the Palace Museum, China Science and Technology University and Fudan University are professional at the following testing methods like thermoluminesecece analysis, neutron activation analysis, Moessbauer spectroscopy analysis, accelerator mass spectrometry analysis, x-ray fluorimetric analysis and line scanning analysis. Such technologies have been applied to the test of the micro elements of the porcelains in order to differentiate the porcelain bodies of various kilns, glazes and places of origin. Fourth, the ceramic seminars are held regularly and advance the scientific achievements in the field of the ancient Chinese ceramics. China Ancient Ceramics Society holds its seminar every year and the theses are collected in the Research on the Ancient Chinese Ceramics (1-13 Issues by now). Shanghai Ceramics Institute of China Science Academy holds its International Seminar on the Technology of Ancient Ceramics every two years and they have published seven issues of colloquia. Fifth, new reports on the archaeological work of the kiln sites have been published one after another and have provided a wealth of materials for our advanced study of the ancient famous kilns. By now, over ten special reports have been published, including Huangpu Kiln Site of the Tang Dynasty (1992), the Official Kiln of the Southern Song Dynasty (1996), Changsha Kiln (1996), Cizhou Kiln Site of Guantai (1997), the Yaozhou Kiln Site of the Song Dynasty (1998), An Excavation Report of Longquanwu Kiln of Beijing (2002), the Yue Kiln of Silongkou (2002), An Excavation Report of the Kiln Sites in the East of Longquan (2005), Hutian Kiln Site of Jingdezhen (2007) and Juntai Kiln of Yuzhou (2008). It is especially noteworthy that the Ceramics Volume of A History of the Chinese Science and Technology has presented us a record of the development of the science and technology in the field of ceramics in China over ten thousands of years. Sixth, a groups of kiln site museums have been set up and opened to the public, presenting a vivid picture of the Chinese ceramic culture and its long history. The Southern Song Dynasty Royal Kiln Museum of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, the Yaozhou Kiln Museum of Tongchuan, Shaanxi Province, Cizhou Kiln Museum of Handan, Hebei Province, Jun Ware Museum of Yuzhou, Henan Province and Ru Ware Museum of Baofeng County, Henan Province, are among them. New Archaeological Discoveries of the Porcelain Kiln Sites 1. Sites of the Primitive Celadons The discovery of Huoshao Mountain and Tingzhi Bridge Kiln Sites in Deqing County in Zhejiang Province in 2007 was the first archaeological excavation of the primitive porcelain kiln site in our country. The Huoshao Mountain Site is a primitive celadon site dating back to the period from the late Western Zhou Dynasty to the late Spring-Autumn Period. Three dragon kiln beds were discovered in their excavation and the primitive celadon products mainly included such daily utensils as bowls, platters, jars, water pots and basins. In addition, there are also some vessels like the You wine vessels, Ding and Gui -shaped Bronzes modeled after the ancient bronzes. In the Tingzhi Bridge site, seven kiln ruins were excavated and, among them, the No. 2 Kiln is 8.7 meters long and is composed of the kiln bed and fire chamber. It is characteristically short and wide. Meanwhile, a large number of exquisitely crafted musical instruments made of primitive celadon modeled after the bronzes and different types of kiln tools were also unearthed from the excavation. The excavators called it the °∞official kiln°± of the Yue State. It is the kiln where the musical instruments of primitive celadon unearthed from the Hongshan Yue Tomb in Wuxi were produced. 2. Yue Kilns in the Early Periods The Nigupo Mountain Kiln Site discovered in Shangyu in Zhejiang Province in 2006 was a special kiln producing functional wares in the periods of the Three Kingdom and the Western Jin Period. They excavated one dragon kiln, one workshop-like ruin and a large number of porcelains and samples of kiln tools. The dragon kiln ruin is 13 meters long, 2.2 meters wide and 0.15°™0.3 meters high. There are a great deal of kiln tools, mainly spacing and mat tools. There is a rich variety of products, including bowls, jars, wash, wine cups, pots with platter-shaped mouth, flask pots and Huzi vessels, and many of them are decorated with beautiful pressed marks and engraved decorations. Undoubtedly, it is a symbol of the top-level technology in the production of celadon wares during those periods. 3. Gongxian County Kiln of the Tang Dynasty The Huangye Kiln Site excavated in Gongyi in Henan Province in 2002 is a large-scale kiln workshop mainly firing the Tang Tri-color Pottery. However, a group of the Tang white-glazed porcelains and Tang Blue and White porcelains were also unearthed from the site. The discovery of the blue and white porcelain shards of the Tang Dynasty is highly appreciated as they have found the place of origin for the Tang White and Blue porcelains unearthed in Yangzhou in Jiangsu Province. Such vessels as the Tang white-glazed vase with double tube-shaped ears, tri-foot drinking vessel and tri-foot stove are large in shape and are characterized by their purity and fineness of their bodies and purely white color or slightly greenish color of their glazes. There are documents about contributions of white-glazed porcelains to the royal court by the Henan Prefecture during the reign of the Kaiyuan Period in the County Annal of Yuanhe Shire and Geography Chapter of New Tang Book. It is quite possible that the Gongyi Kiln may be the very one firing the white porcelains specially contributed to the royal court during the Kaiyuan Period. 4. Ru Kiln of the Song Dynasty It is situated in Qingliangsi Village in Baofeng County in Henan Province and was confirmed as the site of the Ru Kiln after the first experimental excavation. The central firing area of the Ru Kiln was then found during the fifth excavation in 2000. By now, 20 kilns and two porcelain making workshops have been excavated and some ruins such as the aging pits and wells have also been found around the site. The Ru Kiln was the one specially firing royal porcelains and quite a small number of porcelains have been collected due to its short period of production. In addition to the common wares found in the excavation, they also discovered vessels of new shapes such as incense burners, sets of boxes, meiping vases and square pots. On the surfaces of many of the wares are decorated with exquisite designs, mainly lotus and dragon designs. The excavation was praised as one of the ten new national archaeological discoveries in the year of 2000. 5. Laohudong Kiln of the Song Dynasty According to the historical documents, there were two sites of the official kilns during the Southern Song Dynasty, respectively called as the Official Xiuneisi Kiln and the Official Jiaoxiatan Kiln. Both of them were awarded as one of the ten new archaeological discoveries respectively in 1998 and 2001. They found three dragon kilns, four small-scale mantou kilns, ten workshops and 24 porcelain shards. A large group of exquisitely made porcelains and kiln tools were unearthed from the site, including both daily utensils and stoves, zun-shaped vessels and gu-shaped wine vessels. The colors of glazes were mainly greenish celadon and looked as smooth as jade. 6. the royal kiln of Jingdezhen in the Ming Dynasty In the second year of the Hongwu Period of the Ming Dynasty, the royal porcelain factory was set up in Zhushan of Jingdezhen by the royal court of the Ming Kingdom. The royal court organized the porcelain masters from all over the country to produce royal porcelains for the court. The excavation along the northern section of Zhushan in Jingdezhen in the period from 2002 to 2003 led to the discovery of four ruins of the royal kilns dating back to the early Ming Dynasty. There are two ruin sites with deposit of porcelain tributes fired in the Royal Yongle and Xuande Kilns, which failed to be selected in that period. In addition, a large number of valuable samples of royal porcelains were excavated. In 2003, it was awarded one of the ten new national archaeological discoveries in China. The unearthed Yongle porcelains include the red-glazed meiping vase with engraved plum designs, meiping vase with underglazed red dragon design and large bowls with dragon designs. The Xuande porcelains include white-glazed wares, red-glazed wares and vessels with fine crackles modeled after the Ge Kiln. On their bottoms are written with bottom marks of °∞Made in the Xuande Period of the Ming Dynasty°± and °∞Made in the Xuande Period°±. Many of them have never been seen so that they are valued as porcelain treasures. Exquisite Porcelains Buried in Tombs, Bases of Pagodas and Cellars 1. The Aristocratic Tomb of the Yue State in the Zhou Dynasty The excavation of aristocratic tomb of the Yue State in Hongshan of Wuxi in Jiangsu Province in the period from 2003 to 2004 was determined as being dating back to the early Warring State Period. There were over 2,000 pieces of burial objects unearthed from the seven excavated tombs. Among them, the Yue Tomb in Qiuchengdun is next to the Tomb of the King of the Yue State in size, which is situated in Yinshan of Shaoxing of Zhejiang Province and a total of 581 pieces of the primitive celadon porcelains were unearthed from the tomb. Most of them are ceremonial and musical instruments in sets modeled after the bronzes and they are beautifully shaped and well crafted. The excavation was awarded as one of the ten new national archaeological discoveries in China. 2. The Underground Palace of Famen Temple of the Tang Dynasty In the year of 1987, 16 pieces of the Yue celadon porcelain, including bowls, platters, dishes, and octagonal vases, were unearthed from the underground palace of the Famen Temple in Fufeng County of Shaanxi Province. They are modeled after the gold and silver vessels and the glaze look as clear and bright as jade. At the same time, there is a record of °∞porcelain of secret color°± in the treasure documents unearthed from the palace so that the experts confirmed that the group of porcelains were the Mise Porcelain fired in the Yue Kiln recorded in the historical documents and have been regarded as the reliable and standard materials to define the secret color (Mise) porcelain. 3. Porcelain Collection in the Cellar of Suining in the Song Dynasty In 1991, a cellar, dating back to the Southern Song Dynasty, was discovered in Jinyu (Gold-fish) Village of Suining, Sichuan Province and a total of 985 pieces of porcelain were unearthed from it. It was one of the most important discoveries and had the largest group of porcelain among all the cellar collections in our country. There is a rich variety of porcelains of high quality, which have been reserved in good conditions. The porcelains include the celadon of Longquan Kiln of Zhejiang Province, the greenish white porcelains of Jingdezhen of Jiangxi Province, the white porcelain of the Ding Kiln of Hebei Province, the Temmoku porcelain of Guangyuan Kiln in Sichuan Province and the celadon of Yaozhou Kiln in Shaanxi Province. It is quite a perfect symbol of the highest level of porcelain production in the period of the Southern Song Dynasty in the Chinese history. 4. Tomb of King Liangzhuang of the Ming Dynasty The tomb of Zhu Qiji, King Liangzhuang of the Ming Dynasty, was excavated in 2001 and it is situated in Dahong Village of Zhongxiang in Hubei Province. The tomb was in good conditions and there were a rich collection of burial objects including over 1,400 gold, silver and jade pieces and an amazing total of 3,400 pieces of pearl and precious stone ornaments. There are also eight pieces of porcelain unearthed from the tomb, dating back to the Yongle and Xuande Periods, including the blue and white vase, the blue and white Zhong-shaped cup and the zhong-shaped cup decorated with the dragon design in gold. The most characteristic is a set of porcelains composed of the blue and white cup decorated with the dragon design, the gold lid and the tray with gold and silver coating. Among them, the porcelain cup is usually called °∞high-foot bowl°±. According to the mark on the lid of the gold cup unearthed from the tomb, it ought to be called °∞porcelain zhong-shaped cup°±. G. New Achievements in the Underwater Archaeology For the recent twenty years, the Chinese underwater archaeology force is growing steadily and they have made a great deal of fruitful investigations and excavations in Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang, Shandong, Liaoning and Hainan. Their excavations of the ancient cultural relic sites extend all over the Bo Sea, Yellow Sea and the South Sea. With such great efforts, they have gone through the transformation from the coastal waters to remote oceans. The important underwater archaeological excavations include the sunken ship of the Yuan Dynasty in Sanligang, °∞Baijiao No. 1°± sunken ship of the Song Dynasty, °∞Wanjiao No.1°± sunken ship of the Qing Dynasty, °∞Huaguangjiao No. 1°± sunken ship of the Song Dynasty and °∞Nanhai No. 1°± sunken ship of the Song Dynasty. In the sunken ships, the porcelain top the list of the excavated objects and it is a clear representation of the prosperity of the ocean trade through all the dynasties from the Northern Song Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty. Among them, over 600 pieces of porcelain, mainly the Cizhou family ones with brown designs on the white ground, were excavated from the sunken ship of the Yuan Dynasty in Sandaogang of Suizhong County in Liaoning Province in their 1991-1997 excavations. In the excavation of °∞Wanjiao No. 1°± sunken ship of the Qing Dynasty in Pingtan County of Fujian Province, a total of 17,000 pieces of porcelain were salvaged and most of them were the blue and white ones fired in folk kilns in Jingdezhen in the middle period under the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty. In the salvage of the °∞Nanhai No.1 °± sunken ship in Yangjiang of Guangdong Province, they unearthed over 4,000 pieces of the Song porcelain. Today, the excavators have already finished their salvage of the whole ship and a sunken ship museum is already set up. Sun Xinmin |
