Tantou Kiln Site

Tantou Kiln Site

The Tantou Kiln Site is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Ou Kiln is a famous Chinese kiln site centered in Yongjia, Wenzhou. It originated in the Han Dynasty, flourished during the Six Dynasties and continued into the Song Dynasty. The Tang Dynasty marked the peak of Ou Kiln development. The Tantou Ou Kiln site is a typical kiln from the Tang period and represents the highest level of craftsmanship of the Ou Kiln. The Tantou Kiln Site is situated on a west-facing slope southeast of Longxia Village, Sanjiang Subdistrict, Yongjia County. It lies approximately two kilometers west of the Nanxi River. Currently, two kiln remains have been preliminarily identified. From May to December 2017, to accommodate the construction of the Hangzhou–Wenzhou High-Speed Railway and with approval from the National Cultural Heritage Administration, the Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, in collaboration with the Wenzhou Municipal Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology and the Yongjia County Museum, jointly excavated part of the Y1 northern slope of the kiln site. The excavation covered an area of 950 square meters and yielded significant archaeological findings.

The kiln structure at the Tantou Kiln Site is a traditional southern dragon kiln built along the mountain, measuring nearly 40 meters in length and about 1.3 meters in width, oriented east-west, and remarkably well-preserved. The kiln retains a largely intact structure, including the front operation room, fire door, firebox, firing chamber, flue chamber at the rear, multiple kiln doors, pillar holes and protective walls on both sides of the kiln, as well as stone-paved flooring. The southern end of the kiln features workshop remnants consisting of a clay storage pit, pottery wheel pit, glaze tank, kiln structure, building, and stone-paved floor. The sloping surface of the mid-to-rear section of the kiln was leveled with stone blocks. A wide variety of Ou Kiln products were unearthed. In addition to bowls and plates, a large number of high-quality pots and bottles were fired. The quality of the body and glaze is superb, with the most distinctive feature being light-colored bodies adorned with various colored painted designs, setting them apart from other contemporary kilns in China.

The excavation of the Tantou Kiln Site has, for the first time, fully revealed a Tang Dynasty Ou Kiln workshop, clarifying the basic layout of the workshop, the complete structure of the kiln, and other fundamental aspects of kiln operations, thereby uncovering the full production process of Tang Dynasty Ou Kiln ware. It also marked the first discovery of rich ritualistic relics at a kiln site. Additionally, it provided the most comprehensive unveiling to date of the general appearance and characteristics of Tang Dynasty Ou Kiln products. Furthermore, it was the first time glazed-sealed ceramic saggars and high-quality celadon comparable to Mi Se celadon were found outside the Shanglinhu region. Moreover, the discovery of a dated sample at the kiln site established a chronological benchmark for late Tang Dynasty Ou Kiln products. Finally, the first-ever discovery of the term “official production” (“官作”) from the Tang Dynasty holds significant implications for understanding the management system of kilns during that era. In December 2017, the excavation results of the Tantou Ou Kiln Site were selected as one of the “Key Archaeological Discoveries in Zhejiang Province for 2017,” which strongly attests to the cultural and historical value of the Tantou Kiln Site.

In 2019, the Tantou Kiln Site was included in the eighth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Eighth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units