Kiln Site of Blue-and-White Porcelain from the Ming Dynasty in Yao Shang

Kiln Site of Blue-and-White Porcelain from the Ming Dynasty in Yao Shang

The Yao Shang Ming Dynasty Blue-and-White Porcelain Kiln Site is a cultural heritage site protected by Leping City.

The Yao Shang Blue-and-White Porcelain Kiln Site is located in Yao Shang, Yao Xia, and Hua Jia villages, about 4 kilometers southeast of Leping City in Jiedu Town. The Leping County Annals record it as a blue-and-white porcelain kiln from the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty. Local legend says there were 18 large kilns at the time, and a 1962 survey found five kiln mounds still in existence. A 1982 follow-up survey identified only two in Yao Shang Village. The kiln sites are distributed on the alluvial plain north of the Le’an River, and the main products were daily-use ceramics such as bowls, plates, dishes, cups, and teapots. The blue-and-white designs featured figures, animals, flowers, courtyards, bagua coins, and stylized Sanskrit characters. The centers of bowls often bore inscriptions such as “Fu” (blessing), “Shou” (longevity), “Shan” (kindness), “Guang” (radiance), “Noble Fine Ware,” “Fine Ware of the Jade Hall,” “Made in Yongjing Town,” “Nanxi,” and “Made in the Great Ming Era.” The clay body varied from coarse to fine: the coarse type was thicker and heavier, with bluish-gray glaze and relatively light blue-and-white coloring; the fine type was white and thin, with glossy glaze and bright tones. In addition, there were also small quantities of monochrome glazes, such as powder-blue glazed ceramics. Historically, other kilns of the same production lineage include those at Xia Chang and Zhang Jia Qiao.

Designated as a cultural heritage site of Leping County in October 1983.