Seventeenth International Conference on the Arts in Society

Abstract

The paper describes the historical factors of the development of Dehua ancient kilns and aims to confirm Dehua kilns’ impact due to foreign trade business. Dehua’s geographical location and raw resources provided advantageous conditions for the formation of Dehua kilns. During the Song Dynasty, Dehua white porcelain became a major trade commodity along the Maritime Silk Road. It became the only source of ceramics for foreign trade in ancient China. The paper first summarizes the time-linear changes in morphology, firing patterns, and firing processes at the Dehua kiln site through a study of archaeological documents, and attempts to confirm the influence of foreign trade patterns on the development of the kiln site. The paper points out that the aesthetic and cultural fusion of China and the West brought about by foreign trade enriched the artistic forms of ancient Dehua white porcelain. The main products of Dehua white porcelain gradually changed from domestic wares to ceramic sculptures. The western religious themes emerged under the influence of overseas market needs. It is the most distinctive feature of Dehua kilns compared to other ancient Chinese kiln sites. In addition, the paper analyzes the literature related to excavations from overseas as evidence of the characteristics of the linear development of Dehua white porcelain. The study focuses on the impact of foreign trade patterns on the development of Dehua ceramics, both changes in kiln shape and production items. It can be seen as an ancient bridge of cultural exchange between China and western counties.