The Ruins of Fanchang Kiln

The Ruins of Fanchang Kiln

The ruins of Fanchang Kiln are a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The ruins of Fanchang Kiln are located on the hills south of Ruomaojian and the northern slope of Zhui Zi Shan, about one kilometer southeast of Fanchang County. This site was a large-scale ancient kiln from the Five Dynasties to the Northern Song Dynasty, specializing in the production of celadon-white porcelain. The Kejia Village site is the main concentration area of the Fanchang Kiln. The dragon kilns were built along the slopes, with the lower parts of the slopes serving as dumping grounds for discarded kiln boxes and porcelain shards, forming a site distribution area approximately one kilometer in both the east-west and north-south directions, covering a total area of one square kilometer. The Kejia Village site was first established during the Five Dynasties and ceased production in the early Southern Song Dynasty.

The site mainly produced celadon-white porcelain, with some white porcelain as well. The production technique employed the dragon kiln with a single piece per bowl in an updraft firing method, with an early stage involving nail-support firing. The celadon-white porcelain features a pure and delicate body, with a lustrous glaze that presents varying hues from white tinged with blue or yellow to blueish tones highlighted with white. Products include bowls, cups, saucers, plates, teapots, basins, incense burners, pots, and jars, all with neat shapes and fine craftsmanship. The celadon-white porcelain from the Kejia Village site represents a new type of ceramic that emerged from the exchange of northern and southern pottery techniques during the Five Dynasties period and is the birthplace of Jiangnan's shadowy blue porcelain. In addition, the Kejia Village kiln pioneered the use of a dual-material formula, a major technical breakthrough in ceramic production during the Five Dynasties. It marks China’s advancement into modifying natural clay materials for ceramic bodies, holding an important place in the history of Chinese ceramics. It also offers significant value for the study of the ancient kiln industry in southern China and the firing techniques of celadon-white porcelain.

Protected Area: The area enclosed by the central line of the Fanchang Kiln ruins, covering an area of 43 hectares.

Construction Control Zone: Outside the protected area, extending north to the centerline of Mayanshan Road, west to the ridge line of Zhui Zi Shan and its extension, south to the ridge line of Eshan and its extension, and east to the intersection of the ridge lines of Eshan and its extension with those of Zhui Zi Shan and its extension.

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units