Porcelain

China, the birthplace of porcelain, boasts a rich and vibrant history of porcelain-making that represents one of the country's greatest inventions and contributions to world civilization. As the country that invented porcelain, China has long been known as the "Porcelain Kingdom" and the word "China" in English refers to both porcelain and the country itself.

Porcelain is made from materials such as porcelain stone, kaolin, feldspar, and quartz, and is coated with glass glazes or decorated with painted designs. During the high-temperature firing process, the materials and glazes undergo various chemical changes, resulting in different textures, colors, and patterns that are unique to different periods and regions. Typical examples of Chinese porcelain include the white porcelain of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), blue-and-white porcelain of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), and polychrome porcelain of the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911). Jingdezhen in Jiangxi Province is renowned for its porcelain-making craftsmanship, which dates back more than 900 years and produced porcelain for the imperial court, earning the city the title of "Porcelain Capital of China". Porcelain masterpieces showcase the high-level technological expertise of ancient China, and embody the unique cultural and aesthetic values of the East.

As an art form from the East, Chinese porcelain was an important symbol of traditional Chinese culture and an important commodity along the ancient Silk Road. Porcelain trade facilitated material and technological exchanges across the world and its rich cultural meanings informed cross-cultural communication and the development of world culture.