Basic Introduction to Ruzhi Porcelain
Ruzhi Porcelain, a specialty of Pingdingshan City, Henan Province, began production in the mid-Tang Dynasty and gained prominence during the Northern Song Dynasty. It was ranked first among the Five Famous Porcelains of the Song Dynasty, named after Ruzhou City where it is produced. In the Song Dynasty, Ruzhi Porcelain was listed as one of the Five Great Porcelains (Ruzhi, Guan, Jun, Ge, Ding) and was designated as imperial porcelain for the court.
The color of Ruzhi Porcelain glaze changes with light, transforming throughout the day. Under ample light or sunlight, its color appears greenish-yellow; on rainy days, it becomes more vividly green, and on snowy days, the color most closely resembles nature.
Song Dynasty Ruzhi Porcelain emphasizes simplicity and elegance, being plain yet practical. Its design philosophy revolves around dignity, elegance, antiquity, and tranquility, with meticulous craftsmanship, fine construction, and a sense of spirit, avoiding overly expressive shapes.
Ruzhi kiln products include bottles, vases, cup stands, bowls, dishes, washbasins, boxes, water lily pots, etc., with some featuring piled or printed decorations. There are various forms such as wrapped feet, flat bottoms, three legs, concave feet, sunflower mouths, narrow rims, and wide rims. Dishes come in wrapped feet, concave feet, flat bottoms, straight mouths, and lotus flower mouths. Other items include three-legged washbasins, string-patterned vases (boxes), nested boxes, vases, square jars, round jars, and so forth.
The body of Ruzhi Porcelain is quite thick, containing trace amounts of iron, appearing gray-white or pale yellowish-brown, commonly known as incense ash body. The so-called incense ash body looks white from afar, but up close, it is grayish-white (like wood ash). Its clay is finely textured and robust, and when viewed through a magnifying glass, there are no impurities present, indicating strict quality control in its production. Broken ceramic shards, due to the cracking patterns, have less sharp edges and are not very thin.
The celadon of the Song Dynasty Ruzhi kiln is mostly matte, with glazes containing nephrite, giving a lustrous and oily appearance like piled fat. Touching it gently by hand produces a sensation akin to smooth baby skin, with excellent texture, earning it the praise of “resembling jade but better than jade,” with a natural and elegant color that has been likened to “the sky after rain when clouds part.”
Ruzhi kiln porcelain items are generally small, with dishes, washbasins, and bowls having diameters usually between 10 and 16 centimeters. Pieces over 20 centimeters are exceedingly rare, and those over 30 centimeters virtually nonexistent, leading to the saying “there are no large pieces in Ruzhi kiln.”
After the Southern Song Dynasty, Ruzhi kiln works became even rarer due to their scarcity and unique glaze colors, which defied the conventional wisdom of ceramic technology at the time. Therefore, Ruzhi kiln porcelain came to be hailed as the “crown of Song Dynasty porcelain.”
Product Characteristics
Product Characteristics:
Ruzhi kiln is renowned for producing celadon with glaze colors such as sky blue, light blue, pea green, and moon white. The sky blue glaze of Ruzhi kiln contains nephrite, giving a vibrant and lush color, with a rich and glossy appearance like piled fat, looking like jade, producing a delicate sound like chimes, and having an excellent texture, described as “resembling jade but better than jade.” Its natural and elegant color has been likened to “the sky after rain when clouds part.”
Historical Folklore
Ruzhi Porcelain started production in the mid-Tang Dynasty and gained prominence during the Northern Song Dynasty, occupying a significant place in China's ceramic history. Due to the ongoing wars between the Northern Song and Jin dynasties in the late Northern Song period, its prosperity lasted for no more than two decades, making it all the more precious. Surviving Ruzhi Porcelain pieces are extremely rare, with only 65 known worldwide, stored in the Palace Museum Beijing (17 pieces), the National Palace Museum Taipei (23 pieces), the Shanghai Museum (8 pieces), the Sir Percival David Foundation of Chinese Art in Britain (7 pieces), the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Osaka Municipal Museum of Oriental Ceramics in Japan, and other prestigious museums and private collections, totaling about ten pieces.
Ruzhi Porcelain uses precious nephrite as glaze, with unique colors, earning the praise of “nephrite as glaze passed down through generations.” Its color changes with light, resembling “the sky after rain when clouds part” in its warm and antique appearance. The surface exhibits minute crackles resembling cicada wings, referred to as “pear skin, crab claws, and sesame flowers.” During the Northern Song Dynasty, Ruzhi porcelain often bore the inscription “Fenghua,” while Jingqi Minister Cai Jing had his surname “Cai” inscribed as a mark of honor. Since the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, imperial Ruzhi porcelain utensils, stored in the imperial treasury, were regarded as precious treasures, comparable in value to Shang bronzes and Zhou tripods. It is said that “even if one has a fortune, a piece of Ruzhi porcelain is more valuable.” According to the theory of ancient ceramic expert Chen Wanli: “From Emperor Huizong's fifth year of the Chongning era, tracing back to Emperor Zhezong's first year of the Yuanyou era, this was the heyday of Ruzhi Porcelain. At that time, the Northern Song imperial family spared no expense in ordering Ruzhi Prefecture to produce celadon, because Dingzhou white porcelain had rough edges, which the rulers deemed unsuitable for use, hence they ordered Ruzhi Prefecture to produce celadon.” From then on, Ruzhi Porcelain was selected as an imperial treasure, also known as Imperial Ruzhi Porcelain.
In 1952, Premier Zhou Enlai instructed to “develop our cultural heritage and restore the production of Ruzhi kiln.”
After numerous experiments and research, in 1958, experts from the Ruzhi Porcelain Factory in Ruzhou successfully produced the first batch of imitation Ruzhi objects with pea green glaze.
In August 1983, the sky blue glaze of Ruzhi kiln was successfully test-fired by experts from the Ruzhi Porcelain Factory, and it was appraised by ceramic experts, reaching and surpassing the level of Song Dynasty Ruzhi kiln. Since then, Ruzhi Porcelain has become a calling card for the people of Ruzhou City.
Awards and Honors
On October 17, 2005, the original State Quality Supervision and Inspection Administration approved geographical indication product protection for “Ruzhi Porcelain.”
In January 2007, the Henan Provincial Government approved the inclusion of Ruzhi Porcelain firing techniques in the first batch of provincial intangible cultural heritage project catalogs.
In May 2009, the “Top Ten Most Influential Geographical Indication Products in Henan Province” selection activity jointly organized by the Henan Provincial Quality and Technical Supervision Bureau and Henan Daily was held. After expert evaluation of 50 candidate units, Ruzhi Porcelain was awarded the title of “One of the Top Ten Most Influential Geographical Indication Products in Henan Province.”
In June 2010, the firing techniques of Ruzhi Porcelain were approved as national intangible cultural heritage protection projects.
In May 2011, the State Council officially approved the listing of Ruzhi Porcelain firing techniques in the third batch of national intangible cultural heritage project catalogs.
On December 21, 2016, Ruzhi Porcelain was selected as an annual charming brand in the “Light of Quality.”