Longquan Celadon carries the profound cultural heritage of the Chinese nation with its warm, subtle green glaze, embodying the exceptional wisdom and exquisite craftsmanship of ancient artisans. Today, as an intangible cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO, Longquan Celadon continues to write a glorious chapter in the new era with its unique charm.
Heritage Profile: – Project Name: Traditional Firing Technique of Longquan Celadon – Category: UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists – Year of Inscription: 2009 – Type: Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity Project Introduction: The traditional firing technique of Longquan Celadon is a traditional craft with production, skill, and artistic qualities. It has a history of over 1,700 years. The process includes crushing, washing, aging, and kneading of raw materials; shaping, drying, trimming, decorating, biscuit firing, glazing, sagger setting, and kiln loading; and finally, wood-firing in a dragon kiln. Longquan Celadon exhibits unique techniques in material selection, glaze preparation, shape creation, and kiln temperature control. The finished products serve human life and possess distinctive aesthetic value. Display porcelain, decorative porcelain, tea sets, and tableware are perfect combinations of firing technology and artistic expression. The “Powder Green” and “Plum Green” thick-glazed porcelain fired in Longquan kilns, with their elegance, subtlety, solidity, and tranquility, represent classical Chinese aesthetic tastes. Historical Development: The history of Longquan Celadon dates back to the Three Kingdoms and Jin Dynasties when primitive celadon began to be fired. During the Song Dynasty, especially the Southern Song, Longquan kilns reached their golden age, with Powder Green and Plum Green glazes achieving the pinnacle of celadon art. The products were sold domestically and internationally. In the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, Longquan Celadon’s influence expanded further, becoming an important cultural ambassador in China’s foreign exchanges. However, the kilns faced decline during historical changes. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, with government support, Longquan Celadon gradually revived and regained its former brilliance. Technical Features: The traditional firing technique of Longquan Celadon, bearing millennia of craftsmanship, involves complex and refined processes, including crushing, washing, aging, kneading, throwing, drying, trimming, decorating, biscuit firing, glazing, sagger setting, kiln loading, and firing. Several traditional techniques highlight its unique charm. Celadon Glaze Preparation Technique: The celadon glaze is made from raw materials like purple gold clay and porcelain clay. The materials are first roasted, crushed, washed, and then mixed into glaze slurry in specific proportions. Optimal formulas require repeated experimentation and are often passed down within master-apprentice or family lines, kept highly confidential. Thick Glaze Decoration Technique: Thick-glazed celadon is achieved through multiple applications of glaze and firings.The ceramic body undergoes multiple cycles of drying, biscuit firing, and glazing, typically repeated three to four times. Additionally, decorative techniques such as carving, incising, and stamping enrich celadon with unique charm.
Celadon firing technology consists of six stages: drying, oxidation, constant temperature, reduction, high-fire oxidation, and cooling. Thick-glazed celadon demands stringent firing conditions. Artisans precisely control temperature, time, and atmosphere using thermometers, observations of flame color, and accumulated experience to ensure each piece achieves perfection. Longquan Celadon represents one of China’s most renowned kilns, celebrated for its unparalleled duration of production, widespread kiln sites, superior quality, and extensive scale of production and export. Celadon craftsmanship transcends technique to embody artistry. Superior celadon exhibits a jade-like luminosity, often described as ‘artificial jade,’ reflecting cultural values of natural harmony. Its lead-free and cadmium-free composition makes it ideal for tableware, tea sets, and decorative pieces, while exquisite artistic works are treasured by museums and collectors. To safeguard this intangible cultural heritage, collaborative efforts include policy support, innovative inheritance systems, and cultural promotion. Initiatives like the Longquan Celadon Sword Industry Development Plan provide strategic direction, while multidisciplinary training and creative product development ensure continuity. Cultural festivals, exhibitions, and integration projects such as the China Celadon Town enhance global appreciation, allowing this millennia-old tradition to thrive in the modern era.Protect this precious cultural heritage, ensuring the kiln fires of Longquan Celadon burn eternally, allowing it to radiate even more splendid brilliance on the global cultural stage!