History of Jingdezhen

The history of Jingdezhen is inextricably linked with porcelain, thanks to which it gained worldwide fame as the "Porcelain Capital" of China. For over a thousand years, this city has been the primary centre of ceramic production, setting standards of quality and style for the entire empire and far beyond its borders.

Foundation and First Mentions

Although ceramic production in this area began, according to some sources, as early as the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD), it became a significant centre later on. Initially, the settlement was called Changnan, as it was located on the southern bank of the Chang River. A fateful year for the city was 1004, during the Song Dynasty, when Emperor Zhenzong, admiring the quality of the local porcelain, decreed that items be produced for the imperial court and marked with his reign title — "Jingde". Since then, the city received its current name — Jingdezhen, which literally means "Jingde Town".

Key Factors of Development

The rapid rise of Jingdezhen was facilitated by a unique combination of several factors:

• Geographical Location: The city is situated near rich deposits of high-quality kaolin (porcelain stone) — the ideal raw material for producing fine porcelain. The surrounding forests served as an inexhaustible source of firewood for the kilns, while the Chang River provided a convenient waterway for transporting fragile goods throughout the country and to ports for export.
• Imperial Patronage: The status of an official supplier to the imperial court ensured constant orders and the highest quality requirements, which stimulated masters to continuously perfect their art. Imperial manufactories operated here throughout several dynasties.
• Trade Development: By the Ming and Qing dynasties, Jingdezhen had become one of the country's most important commercial centres. Its products were actively exported along the Silk Road and maritime routes to Europe and the Middle East.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

The city's economy and culture were entirely centred around porcelain production. Jingdezhen became a pioneer in developing many iconic technologies and styles. It was here, during the Yuan Dynasty, that the production of the famous blue and white porcelain (Qinghua) was perfected and mass-produced, becoming a hallmark of Chinese art. Even earlier, during the Song Dynasty, the city was famous for Qingbai wares — porcelain with a delicate, jade-like glaze. The skill of local potters was so great that their creations were described as "white as jade, bright as a mirror, thin as paper, and resonant like a gong".

Timeline: From Origins to Modernity

• Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) — In the settlement of Xinping, on the site of the future city, the production of the first primitive ceramics begins.
• Tang Dynasty (618–907) — The city, under the name Changnan, gains fame for its high-quality white ceramics, which were called "artificial jade".
• 1004 — Emperor Zhenzong bestows the name of his reign title upon the settlement, and Jingdezhen officially receives its modern name.
• 1278 — The Yuan Dynasty establishes the Fuliang Porcelain Bureau — the first state body to oversee the production of wares for the court.
• Mid-14th Century — Masters perfect the cobalt painting technology, creating the iconic blue and white porcelain that made China famous worldwide.
• 1369 — At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, the Imperial Porcelain Factory is founded, working exclusively on orders for the Forbidden City.
• 1465–1487 (Chenghua Era) — Appearance of the famous "Doucai" technique, combining underglaze blue painting with overglaze coloured enamels.
• 17th–18th Centuries — The "Golden Age" of production under Emperors Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong, characterized by the invention of the "Famille Rose" enamels.
• 1712 — Jesuit François Xavier d'Entrecolles sends letters from the city to Europe, revealing the secrets of hard-paste porcelain production technology.
• 1855 — During the Taiping Rebellion, the imperial kilns were destroyed, leading to a temporary decline in the industry and the loss of many trade secrets.
• 1910 — Foundation of the Jiangxi Porcelain Company, marking an attempt to modernize production and introduce Western technologies.
• 1950s — Nationalization of private manufactories and the creation of the famous "Ten Great Porcelain Factories" on a state scale.
• 1982 — The State Council includes the city in the first list of 24 national historical and cultural cities.
• 2004 — Large-scale celebration of the millennium of the city receiving its imperial name, attracting the attention of the global community.
• 2014 — Accession to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, cementing the city's status as the world capital of ceramic art.

Key Stages of Jingdezhen's Development

The history of Jingdezhen is a vivid example of how a craft can shape the destiny of an entire city, transforming it from a small settlement into a global centre of art and industry. Each era left its mark on its economic, cultural, and urban appearance.

The Rise of the "Porcelain Capital" (Tang and Song Dynasties)

Although ceramics were produced here earlier, it was during the Tang era (618–907) that items from the then-settlement of Changnan gained wide renown. However, the decisive turning point occurred in 1004, when Emperor Zhenzong decreed that all porcelain for the imperial court be produced here and bear the mark "Made in the Jingde Years". This not only gave the city its modern name but also secured its status as an official supplier, guaranteeing stable demand and the highest quality standards, defining its economic development for centuries to come.

Technological and Cultural Revolution (Yuan Dynasty)

During the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368), Jingdezhen masters achieved a true breakthrough by creating the famous blue and white porcelain (Qinghua). This technology, based on the use of underglaze cobalt painting, forever changed the face of Chinese ceramics and became its main export symbol. The innovation had immense cultural significance and stimulated the city's transformation into an innovation hub, attracting the best artisans in the country.

Centralisation and Entry into the Global Market (Ming Dynasty)

Under the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), the Imperial Factory was founded in Jingdezhen, centralising production for the needs of the court. This led to unprecedented standardisation and division of labour, turning the city into one of the world's first industrial centres. It was during this era that porcelain from Jingdezhen began to be mass-exported globally, first to Asia and then, thanks to Portuguese traders, to Europe, where it sparked the vogue for "Chinoiserie" and became a symbol of luxury.

Industrial Peak (Qing Dynasty)

In the Qing era (1644–1912), production reached its apogee. According to contemporary accounts, over 3,000 kilns operated in the city and its surroundings, the smoke from which was an integral part of the urban landscape. Masters reached incredible heights in creating complex multi-coloured enamels, such as "Famille Rose". The city turned into a giant manufactory where every quarter and every family was involved in the production cycle, from clay mining to painting and firing.

Industrialisation and Reorganisation (20th Century)

After the fall of the empire and a period of instability, a new era began in Jingdezhen in the 1950s. Industrial reorganisation took place: thousands of private workshops were replaced by large state factories. This transition to modern industrial production allowed traditions to be preserved while significantly increasing output volumes and introducing new technologies.

Creative Reinvention (Present Day)

In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Jingdezhen is undergoing a new transformation. Old industrial zones and abandoned factories, such as the Yuzhou Porcelain Factory, are turning into trendy art spaces, studios, and galleries. The city has become a magnet for ceramic artists from all over the world who come here in search of inspiration and unique materials. Today, Jingdezhen is not just an industrial centre, but a global creative capital where thousand-year-old traditions organically combine with contemporary art.

The architectural appearance of Jingdezhen is unique because it was formed not by palaces and temples, but by centuries of porcelain production history. Urban planning here developed organically, subordinate to the needs of the craft. Historically, urban development grew around kiln complexes, which included workshops, residential houses for artisans, and, of course, the firing kilns themselves. Narrow streets and alleyways, many of which have been preserved in historical quarters such as Taoyangli, led to the Chang River, which served as the main transport artery for exporting fragile products. Recycled bricks from old, decommissioned kilns were often used in construction, giving the buildings a special, recognisable character.

For centuries, especially during the Ming and Qing dynasties, the urban landscape was defined by hundreds of smoking kilns of various shapes — from dragon kilns to gourd-shaped ones. Their silhouettes were the city's calling card. Traditional Chinese timber-framed buildings with tiled roofs were situated around them — masters' houses, guilds, and warehouses. In the mid-20th century, the architectural landscape changed with the appearance of large state porcelain factories — massive industrial buildings that replaced small manufactories and altered the city's look for a long time.

Today, Jingdezhen is experiencing a true architectural renaissance, reimagining its industrial heritage. The brightest example of this is the Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Museum, opened in 2020. Its complex, designed by Studio Zhu-Pei, consists of several vaulted brick buildings shaped to resemble traditional firing kilns. Located on the site of archaeological excavations, it has become a new landmark and a global masterpiece of contemporary architecture. Another significant project is the cultural quarter Taoxichuan Ceramic Art Avenue, created on the grounds of former porcelain factories. Here, old red-brick industrial buildings have been carefully restored and complemented by new structures designed by leading architects, including David Chipperfield, transforming into a fashionable space with galleries, markets, theatres, and workshops.

Distinguished Figures Associated with Jingdezhen

The history of Jingdezhen as the "Porcelain Capital" would have been impossible without the talent and patronage of many outstanding people. Over the centuries, emperors, officials, masters, and artists have contributed to the city's glory.

• Emperor Zhenzong (968–1022) — Ruler of the Northern Song Dynasty. It was he who, in 1004, issued a decree that all porcelain for the imperial court must be produced in the then-settlement of Changnan and bear the mark "Made in the Jingde Years". This decree not only gave the city its modern name but also secured its status as the main supplier to the imperial court, determining its development for centuries to come.
• Tang Ying (1682–1756) — A distinguished superintendent of the imperial kilns in Jingdezhen during the Qing Dynasty. For nearly 30 years, he managed production, personally delving into all the subtleties of the craft. Under his leadership, new types of glazes and painting techniques were developed, and the quality of porcelain reached an unsurpassed level. Wares from this period are often called "Tang Yao" (Tang Kilns) in recognition of his merits.
• Song Yingxing (1587–1666) — A scientist and encyclopaedist of the Ming Dynasty. In his famous work "Tiangong Kaiwu" ("The Exploitation of the Works of Nature"), he described in detail the 72 stages of the production process in Jingdezhen. His work is an invaluable source of knowledge about the porcelain production technologies of that time and underscores the industrial importance of the city, noting that several prefectures combined could not compare with Jingdezhen in ceramic production.
• Cheng Men (1833–1908) — A porcelain artist of the late Qing era. He moved away from the European style of painting that dominated at the time and began to emulate traditional Chinese ink landscape painting. His works, resembling light watercolour landscapes, enjoyed great success, which contributed to the revival of the artistic value of Jingdezhen porcelain and paved the way for modern ceramic painting art.
• "Eight Friends of Zhushan" (珠山八友) — A creative association of eight leading ceramic artists working in Jingdezhen during the Republic of China period (early 20th century). They boldly combined traditional Chinese painting techniques with new trends, bringing fresh ideas and styles to the art of porcelain. Their works are highly prized by collectors today, symbolising the transition from imperial craft to modern auteur art.
• Deng Xiping (born 1942) — A modern master known as the "Queen of Coloured Glaze". She has dedicated over 50 years of her life to studying and restoring lost techniques of high-temperature coloured glazes. Deng Xiping has created over 40 new types of glazes and is the only national inheritor of intangible cultural heritage in this field.