Focus on Vase with Poet Zhou Dunyi and explore the Porcelain.
The vase is a product of the Jingdezhen Ware production of porcelain. Porcelain is a branch of ceramics characterised by its fine, light, strong, white translucent material. This porcelain consists of kaolin clay and petuntse, a feldspathic rock, which when fired at temperatures between 1200-1400 degrees vitrifies the clay materials into porcelain. Until the 18th century these techniques were only achieved in China, Japan and Korea, accounting for its high value as a commodity when it was originally produced and first traded in between 5000-1700 BCE.From the 6th century to the 8th century China was considered the most advanced producer of porcelain with hundreds of kiln complexes producing the wares for trade at local markets and for international export. From the 14th to 15th century production methods changed and China saw a significant decrease in the number of operating kiln complexes only to see a central location for the production to appear within the Junangxi complex, now known as the city of Jingdezhen. This city soon housed the largest kiln complex in the world and produced hundreds of thousands ceramics per year. The porcelain produced was used for religious practices as embellishment objects. In addition to academic purposes including studying aesthetic value, leaning and erudition.The production of the vase, like many other ceramics produced, was highly influenced by the cultural restoration that redefined and expanded the Ming Dynasty. The result of this was painters of the Ming Court were required to create works in didactic and realistic style. The Blue and white porcelain which constituted these works of art was said to suggest a broader interest in other cultures specifically international networks of trade that reached from Asia to Africa, the Middle East and parts of Europe.
Ming Dynasty Korea porcelain Asia Blue and white porcelain Europe Ming Dynasty. Jingdezhen China Middle East Africa Japan Porcelain Ming Court