Molding gold and combining clay
The invention and manufacture of ceramics began with pottery making. Throughout the ages, the universe has changed, the dove, the phoenix, and fire. The legend of "Shaohao making pottery" explains why the dove totem in the area where the Fanchang Kiln is located was once a component of the phoenix totem.
Lushi: "Suiren molded gold and combined clay to make a cauldron."
Book of Zhou: "Shennong made earthenware."
The "earthware" in "Shennong made earthenware" here refers to the earliest pottery invented and manufactured in my country, as described in mythology.
The original meaning of "Fan Jin He Tu" is to use a mold (a mold) to cast metal and mix clay. It later became commonly used to refer to pottery making.
The invention and manufacture of ceramics began with pottery. Pottery was the most numerous item produced by our ancestors during the Neolithic Age and represents the technological level of this period.
The emergence and development of pottery are closely linked to people's daily lives and production practices. Around 700,000 years ago, in primitive times, people discovered that drying mud and heating it could make it extremely hard and durable, and it could also be formed into various shapes for holding water, storing food, and more. This marked the beginning of pottery and the beginning of its invention and manufacture.
In his book The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State, Engels pointed out: "It can be shown that in many places, perhaps everywhere, pottery arose from the coating of clay on woven or wooden containers to make them fire-resistant. While doing this, it was soon discovered that formed clay could also achieve the same purpose without an inner container."
From this, we can imagine that the invention of pottery was not the exclusive domain of the ancient ancestors of a particular region or tribe. Instead, it was an invention created through the long-term practice of human life. In other words, any region, any ancient agricultural tribe, or any people group was capable of creating pottery.
As one of the four ancient civilizations, my country has made outstanding contributions to the progress and development of human society. Numerous archaeological discoveries indicate that our ancestors invented pottery as early as the Neolithic Age. The emergence of agricultural production in the late primitive society enabled our ancestors to live a relatively stable life, objectively creating a certain demand for pottery. To improve convenience and quality of life, pottery was gradually produced by firing clay.
The emergence of pottery is one of the main characteristics of my country's Neolithic Age. It strengthened the stability of early human settlements and enriched people's daily lives.
After the initial development of simple pottery production, continuous exploration led to the development of pottery techniques.
The origins of Chinese pottery craftsmanship can be traced back to the Neolithic Age. Pottery, and in particular, the history of ceramics, is an essential component of the Chinese nation's development. The Chinese people's scientific and technological achievements, as well as their pursuit and expression of beauty, are often reflected in pottery and ceramic production, forming distinctive technical and artistic characteristics of each era.
"Suiren molded gold and mixed clay" and "Shennong made pottery"—though just myths and legends—show that my country's invention of pottery, and even ceramics, has a long history and is at the forefront of global development.
Archaeologists discovered pottery fragments from the Late Paleolithic period in the Nihewan area of Yangyuan County, Hebei Province. This suggests that Chinese pottery dates back over 11,700 years. This suggests that the ancient peoples of China were already making pottery in ancient times.
Archaeologists also discovered pottery fragments from the early Neolithic period at the Nanzhuangtou site in Xushui County, Hebei Province, dating back approximately 10,000 years. These fragments have been scientifically determined to be between 10,800 and 9,700 years old.
Pottery fragments dating back approximately 10,000 to 7,000 years have also been discovered in Wan'an County, Jiangxi Province; Zengpiyan, Guilin, Guangxi; and Qingtang Town, Yingde County, Guangdong Province.
The Hemudu culture, named after the site first discovered in 1973 at Hemudu in Yuyao, Zhejiang, dates back approximately 7,000 years. Numerous pottery artifacts have been unearthed from this site.
In 1973, archaeologists unearthed a pottery bowl in Datong County, Qinghai Province. The inner wall of the bowl's rim depicts three groups of five dancing figures, each with their movements in perfect unison and graceful gestures.
The Cishan culture, named after the site first discovered in 1973 at Cishan in Wu'an, Hebei Province, dates back approximately 7,900 years, according to radiocarbon dating. In 1977, cultural relics of similar age and content to those of the Cishan Culture were discovered in Peiligang, Xinzheng, Henan Province, hence the collective name "Cishan Peiligang Culture." The Cishan Peiligang Culture predates the Yangshao Culture and represents the Neolithic period in the middle reaches of the Yellow River. Pottery from this culture primarily includes tripods, jars, plates, bowls, tripod pots, tripod bowls, and two-handled pots. Most artifacts are plain and unlettered, though some grit-tempered pottery is decorated with patterns. Extensive quantities of exquisitely crafted and intricately designed painted pottery have been discovered at the Neolithic sites of Yangshao Village in Mianchi County, Henan Province, and the Banpo site on the outskirts of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province. These two Neolithic sites, dating back over 6,000 years, are examples of matriarchal societies.
The red pottery of the Dawenkou culture, dating back over 6,000 years, and the black and white pottery of the Longshan culture, dating back over 4,000 years, are examples of black pottery. Black pottery, fired at temperatures around 1,000 degrees Celsius, comes in three varieties: fine mud, muddy, and sandy. The fine mud, thin-walled black pottery is particularly skilled, known for its "black as lacquer, thin as paper" quality. The clay used in this black pottery is washed and wheel-formed, resulting in a wall thickness of just 0.5–1 mm. After polishing and successful firing, it becomes a lustrous black, earning it the nickname "eggshell pottery," demonstrating remarkable skill.
White pottery is a type of pottery with a white exterior and interior. Made from porcelain clay or kaolin, it is fired at temperatures around 1,000 degrees Celsius. White pottery was primarily handmade, with clay strip coiling and wheel-making gradually adopted. White pottery primarily appeared in the late Longshan culture. By the Shang Dynasty, bronzeware production had reached remarkable heights, but gray pottery remained the primary form of everyday utensils for ordinary people. Separate workshops specialized in firing clay gray pottery and clay grit-tempered gray pottery existed. However, later in life, white pottery and stamped hard pottery experienced significant development, with white pottery being particularly exquisite. The decorations on white pottery often incorporated artistic features of bronzeware, resulting in ornate and precious ornamentation. Gray pottery already appeared at the Feiligang culture site in the early Neolithic period, and a significant number of gray pottery products were also found during the Yangshao and Longshan cultures. Utensils used for steaming and cooking, in particular, were mostly made of grit-tempered gray pottery. By the Xia Dynasty (early Erlitou culture), gray pottery and grit-tempered pottery dominated the production. Simultaneously, the Shang Dynasty also saw the emergence of primitive porcelain made from kaolin clay and glazed with a green hue.
After the Western Zhou Dynasty, pottery became diverse. Besides household utensils, there were also bricks and tiles, pottery figurines, and architectural funerary objects. This period was the heyday of stamped hard pottery. Chemical analysis of the clay material closely resembles that of primitive celadon. Because the raw materials used for stamped hard pottery contain a high iron content, the clay is darker, often hued in purple-brown, reddish-brown, yellow-brown, and gray-brown. Stamped hard pottery is sturdy and durable, and the vast majority of these vessels were used as storage containers.
Shang Dynasty stamped hard pottery has been found in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. From the Western Zhou Dynasty to the Warring States Period, stamped hard pottery was primarily prevalent in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and in southern areas such as Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, and Guangxi. By the Warring States Period and the Qin and Han Dynasties, burying pottery figurines, animals, and funerary objects became a custom. This led to a further flourishing of the pottery manufacturing industry.
With the continuous progress of society, the quality of pottery gradually improved. During the Shang and Zhou dynasties, specialized craftsmen began to emerge to produce pottery. By the Warring States period, various elegant patterns and floral and bird-themed ornaments appeared on pottery. During this period, lead glaze began to be applied to pottery, giving it a smoother surface and a distinct luster.
