Yulin Pavilion Kiln Site

Yulin Pavilion Kiln Site

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

The Yulin Pavilion Kiln Site is one of the largest and best-preserved ancient kiln sites from the Song Dynasty in China. It is located in Yulin Pavilion, about 5 kilometers north of Xingcun Town, Wuyishan City, adjacent to the scenic Lotus Peak, covering an area of nearly 60,000 square meters. A small stream flows from south to north through the site, along which there are six small hills piled with tens of thousands of saggers and bowl supports, some as deep as 3–5 meters. Surrounded by layers of mountains, a small stream flows into the Chongyang Stream, with an ancient path leading to downtown Wuyishan City. The waste kiln accumulations are distributed from south to north across eight hills, covering an area of about 60,000 square meters, with accumulation layers ranging from 1 to 5 meters thick. The kiln was discovered in 1959 and has been repeatedly inspected since then. Part of it has been damaged, but most of it remains well-preserved.

After being discovered during the 1958 national cultural relics survey, it was listed as one of the first batch of key cultural relics protection units in Fujian Province in May 1961 by the Fujian Provincial People's Government. Within the excavated area, two semi-subterranean flat-flame sloping dragon kilns from the Song Dynasty were excavated and cleared—one 73.2 meters long and the other 113.1 meters long. Both kiln bases are 2 meters wide. It is one of the largest and best-preserved ancient kiln sites from the Song Dynasty in China. The excavation unearthed a large number of black-glazed and green-glazed porcelain artifacts and kiln furniture samples from the Song Dynasty. The excavation data shows that the products of the Yulin Pavilion Kiln Site were mainly tea utensils such as "tea bowls," with both refined and coarse varieties coexisting, and black-glazed and green-glazed porcelains fired together. A large number of lustrous, jet-black Jian ware bowls with simple beauty and clear, vivid rabbit-hair patterns were unearthed. Particularly important was the discovery of a batch of black-glazed porcelain bowls with "gold and silver painted designs," which were found for the first time in China and even globally among similar kiln sites and are extremely rare in international collections.

Products from the Yulin Pavilion Kiln are extremely rare in domestic collections, yet several such black-glazed porcelain bowls are included in the book *Tenmoku*, compiled by the Nezu Museum and Tokugawa Art Museum in Japan. Among them are gold-painted "Longevity Mountains and Blessed Seas" bowls, with Zhu Xi’s poem lines from the *Wuyi Boat Songs* inscribed on the upper circle. Their features are identical to those of the Yulin Pavilion Kiln Site products, proving that as early as the Song Dynasty, premium products from the Yulin Pavilion Kiln began to be exported and reach the world.

The products of the Yulin Pavilion Kiln fall into three major categories: celadon, bluish-white porcelain, and black porcelain. Celadon wares are mostly bowls and dishes; bluish-white porcelain includes bowls, dishes, plates, jars, pots, and bottles; black porcelain is predominantly bowls, commonly known as "Jian ware," which are the most representative products of the Yulin Pavilion Kiln. The black glaze colors of Yulin Pavilion Kiln wares are rich, vibrant, and unpredictable, with representative glaze types including: Jet Black, Rabbit Hair, Oil Drop, Partridge Spot, and Yaobian (flame-like pattern), as well as gold and silver painted black-glazed bowls featuring landscape, floral, bird patterns, and auspicious inscriptions, which are uniquely distinctive. Yulin Pavilion porcelain has a large mouth, small base, simple shape, thick body, and rich glaze, making it one of the finest tea sets throughout history. Its unique artistic charm and functional characteristics are breathtaking, beloved by royalty and commoners alike, and highly praised by literati. Yulin Pavilion porcelain also spread to Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asian countries through foreign trade and cultural exchanges, profoundly influencing the daily lives and social cultures of people in those regions.

The gold and silver painted black-glazed porcelain bowls unearthed at the Yulin Pavilion Kiln Site were found for the first time in China and even globally, confirming that the origin of such gold and silver painted wares is Wuyishan. This resolved the debate between Chinese and Japanese archaeologists regarding the origin of these pieces. The gold and silver painted patterns are delicate, with decorative techniques involving painting floral designs, landscapes, and text on the fired black-glazed bowl bases and inner walls. The artwork combines the precision of fine brushwork with the freedom of freehand styles. The strokes are fluid, birds and animals dynamic, and landscapes vividly lifelike. The porcelain body, craftsmanship, and glazing are all extremely refined, demonstrating masterful skill. With the addition of gold and silver painted patterns, the contrast of light and shadow enhances their exquisite beauty. They hold extremely high scientific and artistic value.

About nine hundred years ago, the area where the kiln site is located (Lotus Peak, Xingcun) was traversed by the official road of Chongan. To accommodate travelers, a local benefactor funded the construction of a shelter here. An event that took place in this shelter influenced the region for centuries. Legend has it that in the late Northern Song Dynasty, when war ravaged the Central Plains and people suffered, many fled southward. One day, a man surnamed Lin, a kiln master from the north, fled south with his family and took shelter from heavy rain in this pavilion. There, he met two fellow Lin clansmen: one a pottery master from the Jianzhou Shuiji Kiln who had come to find ceramic raw materials, and the other a local who owned the surrounding hillside forest. Speaking of the area’s favorable terrain for building a kiln—with ample resources such as pine firewood and ceramic clay, and convenient transportation—they agreed that a kiln could be highly profitable. The three hit it off and decided to jointly establish a kiln here: one would provide the site and equipment, one would handle the forming technique, and one would be responsible for firing. Thanks to the ideal conditions and their teamwork, the first firing was a success, quickly establishing a brand. The kiln became increasingly popular, and business flourished. To commemorate their chance meeting, they named the shelter “Yulin Pavilion” (Encounter Forest Pavilion). From then on, the kiln took its name from the pavilion, and its products sold far and wide, gaining fame. Over time, Yulin Pavilion came to refer not just to the kiln but also to the locality, and the name has remained in use to this day.

Admission Fee

20 RMB per person

Opening Hours

8:00-17:00

Location

Xingcun Town, Wuyishan City, Fujian Province

Xingcun Town: Located southwest of the city, within the Wuyishan National Scenic Area and Wuyishan National Nature Reserve, it is 18 kilometers from downtown. It borders Xingtian Town and Wuyi Subdistrict Office to the east, Jianyang to the south and southwest, Yangzhuang Township to the north, and borders Guangze County and Yanshan County of Jiangxi to the northwest.

Historically part of the administrative divisions of Shangrenyi and Xiaren Yi townships, it governed Zhoucun Li, Jiangcun Li, Jiehe Li, and Jianping Li, equivalent to the current areas of Xingcun, Huangcun, Liyuan, and Chenghu in the town.

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