Basic Introduction to Kazuo Purple Clay
Purple clay and pottery in Kazuo County have a long history, dating back to the prehistoric Hongshan Culture period. A large number of pottery artifacts have been unearthed from the sacrificial site at Dongshan觜 and the Niuheliang site in Kazuo County, including cylinder jars, slanted mouth vessels, pots, dou (a type of vessel), covered jars, nude female figures, and clay goddesses. During the Hongshan Culture period, the pottery was mainly composed of sand-mixed gray pottery and mud-quality red pottery, with the latter accounting for a larger proportion than the former.
Product Features
Kazuo purple clay products are high-temperature pottery made from purple clay ore through multiple processes. The ore appears in various colors such as purplish-red, dark purple, vermilion, etc. It has a fine and hard texture with a closely packed granular structure. It is fired at a high temperature, with the vitrification temperature approaching that of porcelain, thus making it a high-temperature pottery. Due to the evenly distributed sandy particles in the raw material, the surface remains clear and smooth after firing, with a refined and elegant appearance. Because the purple clay ore comes in many colors, people make full use of the original colors of the ore to create various colored purple clay pastes. Different types of clay can also be formulated for different purposes, meeting the requirements of the manufacturing process. Purple clay products are suitable for carving, have good breathability, natural colors, no glaze, and excellent plasticity. Therefore, flower pots made from purple clay have good breathability and drainage properties, ensuring that planted flowers do not rot or lose their leaves, maintaining loose soil and lush foliage, with vibrant flower colors. Tea brewed in a purple clay teapot retains its original flavor, with both color and taste being excellent. Over time, tea residue accumulates into “mountains,” earning the term “tea mountain.” Using purple clay containers to store grains prevents them from souring. Purple clay teaware and collectibles, due to their slow heat conduction, are not scalding to the touch and are resistant to wear. With frequent wiping, the surface becomes even more lustrous and smooth, highly valued by tea enthusiasts.
Historical Folklore
In Kazuo, the use of purple clay pottery dates back 7,000 years, to the Hongshan Culture period, when the local people already knew how to fire pottery using purple-red clay.
The Liaoning Archaeological Team discovered an intact Neolithic cultural site in Dongshan觜 Village, located four kilometers east of Kazuo County. The site was square-shaped and featured a large dwelling. To the south, there was a stone-built circular platform where three clay figurines were consecutively unearthed. It is believed that this was a ritual altar related to religious ceremonies. From the two small clay figurines of women, it can be seen that the pregnant abdomen was emphasized. Modern scholars refer to these as “nude pregnant goddesses” of the Hongshan Culture.
In the later period of the Hongshan Culture, during the Xiaohelayan Culture period (approximately 3,000 to 5,000 years ago), people began to make figurines from clay. This clay figure was excavated from Chaoyang Cave (see image). It is finely crafted, with patterns on the body, three ear holes, hands clasped over the abdomen, textured back, and inscriptions.
During the Shang and Zhou periods, gray pottery mixed with sand and black pottery were representative, and many vessels were smoke-fired. For example, on the hill in Shanwanzi Village, shards of dou and tripod pots are found everywhere, indicating that a large population lived here during the Shang and Zhou periods. In 2009, the author discovered a clay bottle near the purple clay mine in Nanyaocun Village. It had a round belly, a small mouth, a long neck, a square imprint pattern on the bottom, and patterns and nipples on the body.
Manufacturing Method
The production process of Kazuo clay sculpture can be roughly divided into two categories. One is made from natural red clay and processed into sculptures. The other is made from purple clay and molded into sculptures.
Red clay sculpture refers to pottery made from clay, known as earthware. It is suitable for making large pottery items such as basins, jars, bottles, and roof tiles. Techniques used include sculpting, molding, pinching, attaching, and striking, followed by low-temperature firing to form red or gray clay sculptures.
Purple clay sculpture refers to pottery made from purple clay, known as purple clay sculpture. It is suitable for making smaller items like figurines and tea pets. Techniques used include sculpting, molding, pinching, attaching, engraving, and hollowing. After shaping, they are high-temperature fired to form purple clay sculptures.