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Chinese Pottery

The existence of pottery was a hallmark of the Neolithic Age in primitive society.

Pottery shards of more than 10,000 years ago were discovered in the Fairy Cave site in Lishui County of East China's Jiangsu Province, and shards of sandy red pottery dating back 10,000 years ago were found in the Nanzhuang Culture site in Xushui County of North China's Hebei Province.

The site of the Peiligang Culture in Xinzheng of Central China's Henan Province and the site of the Cishan Culture in Wu'an of Hebei Province are early Neolithic sites found in northern China, dating as far back as 7,900 years ago.

The site of the Hemudu Culture in Yuyao County of East China's Zhejiang Province is another early Neolithic site that flourished 7,000 years ago. Grey pottery, red pottery, charcoal-mixed black pottery, and even an occasional piece of painted pottery were found at all these ancient sites.

The site of the Yangshao Culture at Yangshao Village in Mian County of Henan Province, and at Banpo Village in Xi'an of North China's Shaanxi Province, inhabited by people who lived in prosperity in a matriarchal clan society, are more than 6,000 years old. Large quantities of fine painted pottery were already made at that time.

With the development of the society, the quality of pottery steadily improved.

By the Shang and Zhou dynasties (16th century-221 BC), a clear-cut division of labor had already appeared among potters.

Elegant designs and pictures of flowers and birds were carved on pottery ware during the Warring States Period (475-221BC). Potters in this period introduced lead glaze, which made the surface of pottery smooth and fine and added luster to the vessels.

In the Western Han Dynasty (206BC-24AD) the art of glazing pottery became widespread. Multi-colored glaze was also introduced in the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD).

The renowned Tang Dynasty (618-907) tri-color pottery with lead glaze was the invention of potters who introduced white, yellow, blue, green, brown, and purple glazes and skillfully applied them in combination. The appearance of Tang tri-color glazed pottery marked the entry of pottery art into an era of greater variety and color, which in fact began in the Sui Dynasty (581-618).

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Black Pottery
Black pottery was born in the late Neolithic period in China, 4000 years ago, the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River is a masterpiece of primitive culture. Black pottery is the second best after Yangshao culture painted pottery types, known as "the art of soil and fire, strength and beauty of the crystal,"
Famous Zi Sha Makers in the Ming & Qing Dynasty
During the Ming & Qing Dynasty, plenty of zisha makers appeared. Among them, there're some famous ones, that is, the Jinsha Monk, Gong Chun, Shi Dabin, Shi Peng, Li Zhongfang, Hui Mengchen, Chen Mingyuan, Yang Pengnian, Yang Fengnian, Shao Daheng, Zhu Shimei.
Purple Sand
Purple Sand teapots are made from Yixing clay. This traditional style commonly used to brew tea originated in China, dating back to the 15th century, and are made from clay produced in the region of the town of Yixing in the eastern Chinese province of Jiangsu.
The Development of Pottery
Pottery is porous and opaque and gives a dull sound when struck. It was first found existing in the Neolithic Age.
Tang Tri-colored Glazed pottery
A type of glazed pottery with the dominant colors of yellow, brown and green was very popular in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). It was later called the tri-colored glazed pottery of the Tang Dynasty, or Tangsancai .
Black Pottery
In the last step of pottery making, water is usually added slowly from the top of the kiln in order to produce thick smoke while extinguishing the charcoal. When this is done, the black pottery comes out.
Classic Work of Painted Pottery
Most painted pottery in China was made some 3000 to 5000 years ago in the Yellow River Valley in Southwest Qinghai, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces and northern Henan Province.
Tang Tri-colored Glazed Pottery
A type of glazed pottery with the dominant colors of yellow, brown and green was very popular in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). It was later called the tri-colored glazed pottery of the Tang Dynasty, or Tangsancai.
White Pottery
White pottery is a kind of pottery whose outside and inside are all white. The greenware is mostly made by hand. It uses porcelain clay or kaolinite, which contain less iron than figuline, and is fired at a temperature of about 1000 ℃.

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