Qili Town Kiln Site

Qili Town Kiln Site

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

Era: Tang to Ming

The site is located in Qili Village, Shuidong Town, eastern suburbs of Ganzhou, Jiangxi. The kiln site spans an area about one kilometer wide from east to west, with sixteen kiln remains covering a total area of over 3,000 square meters. It is currently the largest and longest-operating ancient kiln site from the Song and Yuan dynasties discovered in southern Jiangxi. Kiln production began in the late Tang Dynasty, flourished during the Song Dynasty, and ended in the Yuan Dynasty, spanning a history of more than 300 years. Products include celadon-glazed, white-glazed, qingbai-glazed, and black-glazed varieties. Celadon ware features fine and solid clay body with a dull gray color, and a crab-shell green glaze with fine crackles and sand particles. White-glazed and qingbai porcelain have delicate bodies and high firing temperatures, producing a crisp sound when tapped; the thick glaze appears milky white with a shiny and translucent surface. Black-glazed products are more varied, including black-glazed, dark red-glazed, dark brown-glazed, tea-green-glazed, and black-glazed kiln transformation pieces. However, truly glossy jet-black glaze is rare, and kiln patterns such as hare’s fur and tortoiseshell are not very successful; the body is dark red or purplish-gray. The Qili Town Kiln mainly produced daily-use items such as bowls, plates, cups, saucers, jars, bowls, and pots, along with some export ceramics. The vessels are generally thick and heavy, mostly with solid ring feet, and the glaze does not reach the base, leaving the foot exposed. In May 2013, it was designated and announced by the State Council as part of the seventh batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Qili Village: Introduction to Qili Village

Qili Village is located in the eastern part of Zhanggong District, Ganzhou City, bordering Meilin Town of Ganxian District to the east, facing Shahu Town across the Gong River to the south, connecting with Yanya Village to the west, and adjacent to Hongxing Village to the northwest. It administers eight villager groups, with a total of 472 households and a population of 1,773; the cultivated land area is 703 mu. Its work consistently ranks at the forefront in Shuidong Town. In recent years, leveraging the development of the Qili Ancient Kiln Site and surrounding areas, Qili Village has built a tourism industry economic circle centered around the Xian Niang Ancient Temple, Chi Family Ancestral Hall, Wanshou Palace, and ancient banyan trees, promoting the scientific development of the village's economy and society. …… More detailed information on Qili Village ++

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units