China’s earliest porcelain was proto-celadon which dates back to the Shang and Zhou dynasties. Its paste is called“china clay.”Vessels excavated from a Western Zhou tomb in Tunxi (屯溪), Anhui Province, for example, have a paste that contains a substance similar to the fine clay still used today in Jingdezhen Kilns (景德镇窑). The only difference between the remote and present pastes is that the older is not so carefully washed and refined.
Notes：1）proto-celadon原始青瓷；2）excavate发掘（尤指古物）
6.什么是青瓷？
What is celadon?
From the Shang and Zhou dynasties, Chinese porcelain is called proto-celadon. Down to the Warring States Period, porcelain is termed“early celadon.”Its glaze is fairly thick and glossy, and its color a rather dark blue-green.
Complete sets of celadon vessels were manufactured as early as at the beginning of the Western Han Dynasty. In addition to the blue-green glaze, vessels have pale grey, yellowish green and brownish black glazes.
During the Tang Dynasty, celadon manufacture reached a high degree of perfection. The most important manufacturing site is that of the Yue Kilns (越窑) in Yuezhou (越州), South China. These kilns were the early center of celadon production. Yue celadon is described as“jade like,”“ice like”or“the color of infused tea.”Its pale blue-green glaze was translucent and lustrous. Yue celadon was also a tribute item to the reigning imperial court.
During the Song Dynasty, Longquan Kilns (龙泉窑) in Longquan County and several other counties in Zhejiang Province became the center of celadon manufacture in South China. These kilns remained in existence for 700 years from the Song to the Qing Dynasty, and some of the products were shipped overseas.
Notes：1）dark blue-green深青绿色的；2）pale grey淡灰的；3）yellowish green淡黄绿色的；4）brownish black褐黑色的；5）lustrous有光泽的
7.什么是白瓷？
What is white porcelain?
While the kilns in South China manufactured celadon porcelain, white porcelain was produced in North China. It emerged during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and its china clay and glaze were white in color. White porcelain vessels have been unearthed from the tomb of Fancui (范粹墓) in Northern Qi (北齐) in Anyang County (安阳), Henan Province, representing China’s earliest white porcelain so far discovered.
During the Tang Dynasty, the quality of white porcelain was greatly improved. Xing porcelain (邢窑白瓷), produced at the Xing Kilns (邢窑) at the site of Neiqiu (内丘), Hebei Province, was the most important white porcelain of the Tang Dynasty. Some scholars describe the white glaze of the porcelain produced at the Xing Kilns as“silver-like”and“snow-like.”
Down to the Song Dynasty, ding white porcelain (定窑白瓷), produced at the Ding Kilns (定窑) at the site of Quyang (曲阳) in Hebei Province, gradually replaced the xing white porcelain of the Tang. Ding porcelain is spotlessly white, with some decorative patterns added. White porcelain had far-reaching prospects and gradually became China’s prime porcelain product. Its white color also served as the bottom color for painted porcelain.
Notes：1）decorative装饰的；2）prospect景象
8.什么是彩瓷？
What is painted porcelain?
Generally speaking, prior to the Yuan Dynasty, celadon and white porcelain were the main porcelain products in ancient China. During the Yuan Dynasty, colored porcelain rose in numbers, and it thus remained as a main form of porcelain from the Yuan to the Qing dynasties. The porcelain vessels of the Yuan had already varied patterns of scrolls, leaves, sunflowers, peony, fruits, dragon, phoenix, flowing streams, etc; but a rich variety of painted designs opened great prospects for painting on Ming porcelain.