Beginning in the late 6th century traders from the West began setting up glass workshops in the Chinese imperial capital, and local artisans now learned the technique of glassblowing. With Buddhism in its heyday in China, glass vessels were frequently used for presenting devotional offerings of clean water, flowers and fruit, or as pure receptacles for the ashes of senior clergymen.
魏晉南北朝之後，羅馬商人直接在京城大量燒製五色琉璃，中國工匠也學會西方的玻璃吹製法，在佛教盛行的時代，玻璃器皿經常被拿來當作盛淨水、供佛花果或是高僧舍利子的清淨之器。