Jingdezhen is known as the “Porcelain Capital” and is located in northeastern Jiangxi. During the Jingde Period (1004-1007) of the Southern Song dynasty, emperor Jingde decreed all the pieces made for court to be marked ‘made in the Jingde period and subsequently the city changed its name from Xinpin to Jingdezhen.
Jingdezhen covers an area of 2053 square miles with a population of 1,520,000, including 450,000 urban. For over 2,000 years, Jingdezhen has been known as the Porcelain Capital City of China. Ceramics were produced here as far back as the Han dynasty (206-220 BC). Originally known as Changnan, its name was changed when Emperor Jingde (1004-1007 AD) of the Southern Song dynasty, decreed all the pieces made in the town for imperial court to be marked ‘Made in Jingde Reign’. The porcelains made in Jingdezhen were so exquisite that they were described as being “as white as jade, as bright as a mirror, as thin as paper, with a sound as clear as a chime”. Among them are those particularly famous four classic types: blue and white, famille rose, rice-pattern, and color glaze.
For centuries, the city has been considered to be China’s most important center for porcelain production. Ceramics were produced here as far back as the Han dynasty (206-220BC). The imperial porcelain was so exquisite that it was described as being “as white as jade, as bright as a mirror, as thin as paper, with a sound as clear as a bell”
Today, Jingdezhen remains a national center for porcelain production. The most famous types of porcelain from Jingdezhen are the blue and white porcelain, which has been produced since the Yuan dynasty (1280-1368AD) and the rice-patterned porcelain that was introduced in the Song dynasty.
While in this city, tourists can visit one of the many pottery factories. The Museum of Ceramic History has items found among the ancient kiln sites and also has workshops demonstrating porcelain production techniques.
In the Jingdezhen Ceramic History Museum, visitors learn the history behind the city, famed for its ceramics. The museum houses not only ceramic artworks from different dynasties, which are of great value, but also ancient ceramic workshops. This is where visitors can learn the whole process of how ceramics were produced in the ancient times. Not only that, they can also have a go at making ceramics on their own.
History
In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Jingdezhen and three other towns (Zhuxianzhen in Henan Province, Hankouzhen in Hubei Province, and Fushanzhen in Guangdong Province) were listed as the Top Four Towns of China.
During the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907), Jingdezhen was named Changnan, meaning “south of the Chang River.” During the Song Dynasty, the city was renamed Ching-te-zhen (AD 1004) by Emperor Zhenzong, whose reigning title was Ching-te or Jingde. Jingdezhen became a major porcelain producer in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), although people were producing ceramics in the area as early as in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220). Since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), it has been the center of the ceramic industry. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, when skills became perfected and the general quality became more refined, governmental kilns were set up to cater exclusively to the need of the royal families. In fact, during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Imperial Porcelain Depot was established in the city.
The porcelain industry has enjoyed a high reputation both at home and abroad. With a long porcelain-making history to its credit, Jingdezhen is known for its flawless craftsmanship and trend-setting style in porcelain making. Its porcelain is “as white as jade, as bright as a mirror, as thin as paper, and with the sound of a bell when struck.” The city’s porcelain enjoys a brisk market in more than 100 countries and regions the world over. The most famous varieties include blue and white porcelain, colored glazed porcelain, exquisitely designed blue and white porcelain, and famille rose porcelain. These products have won many international awards. Besides the porcelain industry, Jingdezhen has also developed other industries, such as automobile, refrigerator and food production, mechanics, electronics, chemistry, aviation, building materials, and pharmaceuticals.
