The Changsha kiln porcelain from the Tang Dynasty on display

Venue: Exhibition hall, 2/F, Dongguan Museum

Exhibition time: January 23 to April 6, 2021

The Changsha kiln was the first kiln in the history of Chinese ceramics to fire colourful underglaze porcelain. It developed in the late 8th century and prospered in the mid-late Tang Dynasty. Its rise broke the porcelain production pattern dominated by blue and white monochromatic glazes and brought in the colour porcelain era of Chinese porcelain, which was of milestone significance. The Changsha kiln was the first kiln that widely applied traditional arts such as poetry, calligraphy, and painting to porcelain decoration. It raised the art of porcelain decoration to a new level in the history of ancient Chinese ceramics.

In the context of the prosperous, open and inclusive Tang Dynasty culture, Changsha kiln focused on the domestic market and boldly absorbed foreign cultural factors, innovated porcelain decoration techniques, and actively explored overseas markets. Starting from the inland Xiangjiang River, its products passed through Yangzhou, Ningbo, Guangzhou. They were shipped along the "Maritime Silk Road" to more than 20 countries and regions, including East Asia, Southeast Asia, West Asia and North Africa. It became a veritable world-class best-selling product.

Dongguan Museum and Changsha Museum jointly hold the exhibition. The 186 pieces (sets) of Changsha kiln porcelain from the Tang Dynasty on display are all the Changsha Museum's exquisite collections. It is hoped that the exhibition will enable the audience to understand the significance of the Changsha kiln in the history of Chinese ceramics and to experience the remarkable Tang Dynasty style on the "Maritime Silk Road" thousands of years ago through pieces of pleasant Changsha kiln porcelain.