Site of the Imperial Kiln in Lumu

Site of the Imperial Kiln in Lumu

The Site of the Imperial Kiln in Lumu is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Jiangsu Province.

The Site of the Imperial Kiln in Lumu is located in Yuyao Community (formerly Yuyao Village, Lumu Town), Yuanhe Subdistrict, Xiangcheng District, Suzhou City, and consists of two sister kilns. The ancient brick kilns date back to the late Qing Dynasty, though their origins go even further back. The arched entrances of the brick kilns still bear traces of repairs over the years, and investigations suggest they once produced golden bricks for the Qing imperial family.

The kilns are double-linked structures, oriented from north to south, with an oval floor plan measuring 35 meters from east to west and 33 meters from north to south, covering an area of 1,255 square meters. The exterior features a linked structure, while the interior firing chambers and chimneys are independent. A water infiltration pool is located on top of the kiln, making the design more scientific and rational. This type of water infiltration system has never been recorded in relevant professional publications and is unique to the Jiangnan region. The interior of the kiln is conical, with a base diameter of 6.70 meters; the arched kiln door is 2.42 meters wide and 3.05 meters high; the cylindrical chimney is 1.00 meter in diameter and 4.25 meters high.

In 1984, it successfully produced traditional golden bricks, and since then has manufactured a large number of such bricks for the repair of the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Gate, as well as palaces, temples, and historic buildings both in China and abroad. Local chronicles of Suzhou record that since the Ming Dynasty, the imperial kiln had specialized in producing golden bricks for court construction. Today, golden bricks from the imperial kiln have been found in historic structures such as the Forbidden City and the Great Wall in Beijing. The foundation of the ancient imperial kiln in Lumu, built during the Ming Dynasty, remains very solid, and the kiln body has retained its original appearance despite dozens of renovations over the years.

The village of Lumu has a history of hundreds of years in producing “golden bricks.” Since the Ming Dynasty, the village has been valued by emperors of successive dynasties as a site for firing imperial bricks and tiles. Legend has it that the site was once praised by Emperor Yongle and bestowed with the name “Imperial Kiln.” The term “golden brick” is an elegant name for large square bricks, so called because of their dense texture and the metallic sound they make when struck. Later, as these bricks were exclusively transported to the “Beijing Granary” for use by the imperial family, they also came to be known as “Beijing bricks.”

On May 20, 2006, the State Council announced the first batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage items, listing the production techniques of the imperial golden bricks among the first group of national intangible cultural heritage protections. In the same year, the Site of the Imperial Kiln in Lumu was designated by the provincial government as part of the sixth batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Jiangsu Provincial Cultural Heritage Sites