Colored glaze firing technique (Shanxi)

Shanxi
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Colored glaze is low-temperature lead-glazed pottery, which is usually used for architectural decoration. Lead-glazed pottery appeared in the Western Han Dynasty, and only some daily utensils and burial figurines were fired. In the Tang Dynasty, what people now call "Tang Sancai" was fired. After the Song Dynasty, its achievements were mainly reflected in the production of architectural colored glaze. Shanxi is the main production area of colored glaze in my country, and its colored glaze art has a long history and tradition. For more than a thousand years, this industry has been passed down from generation to generation, leaving behind many excellent works. Its wide distribution and the number of craftsmen are among the best in the country, making it the hometown of colored glaze art in my country. In history, colored glaze was mostly used in palaces, mausoleums, temples, pagodas and other buildings, which made this type of product have a unique quality. It has reached a considerable height in terms of modeling style, decorative style, and craftsmanship quality. It is an organic combination of traditional Chinese ceramic culture and architectural culture. Colored glaze architecture has also become an architectural form with national characteristics and traditional cultural connotations. Colored glaze production is widely distributed in Shanxi, among which Taiyuan, Yangcheng, Hejin, Jiexiu and other places have a greater influence. Taiyuan has been producing colored glaze since the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty at the latest, and it has never been interrupted since then. The Su family is the most influential in the local colored glaze production. Yangcheng began to produce colored glaze in the Yuan Dynasty and reached its peak in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It was originally produced in the East Gate of the county seat and later moved to Houzeyao Village. The colored glaze of the Qiao family is the most famous. Hejin colored glaze began in the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty and was mainly concentrated in the East and West Yaotou villages in the west of the city. The Lv family is a local colored glaze family. Jiexiu is an early area in Shanxi to produce colored glaze. Colored glaze was used in temple buildings in the Tang Dynasty. It reached its peak in the Ming Dynasty and left many excellent works. The characteristics of Shanxi colored glaze are: bright as a mirror, bright colors, never discoloring, anti-corrosion and moisture-proof, strong and durable. Its production process is roughly the same as that of porcelain. First, the ingredients are mixed and the blanks are made, the colors are matched and glazed, and then the kiln is loaded and fired. Among them, the ingredients, color matching, and glazing are the most difficult to master, which is a unique skill. Colored glaze crafts are not only a beautiful decoration, but also a good building material. When building tall buildings, especially traditional Chinese buildings, colored glaze products are indispensable. The decoration of colored glaze on the roof and eaves of tall buildings makes the buildings look more majestic and magnificent. Even after being exposed to wind and sun for a long time, they still retain their color and luster as new and dazzling.

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