Imperial Kiln Site

Imperial Kiln Site

The Imperial Kiln Site is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a key cultural relics protection unit in China.

A national 4A-level tourist attraction. Located on Zhushan Middle Road in the downtown area of Jingdezhen. In the 15th year of the Zhiyuan era during the Yuan Dynasty (1278 AD), Kublai Khan, the founding emperor of the Yuan Dynasty, established the Fuliang Porcelain Bureau on Zhushan Mountain in Jingdezhen to oversee the production of imperial porcelain. The emperor dispatched officials to supervise the making of court-use ceramics in Jingdezhen, resulting in countless exquisite ceramic masterpieces. In the 2nd year of the Hongwu era during the Ming Dynasty (1369 AD), Zhu Yuanzhang restructured the Fuliang Porcelain Bureau into an Imperial Kiln, marking the beginning of reign marks on court porcelain. During the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, the Imperial Kiln was renamed the Imperial Kiln Factory. It continued operations until the 3rd year of the Xuantong era (1911 AD), spanning nearly seven hundred years. It is the longest-operating, largest-scale, and most exquisitely crafted official porcelain factory in China.

Due to the privileges of the Imperial Kiln Factory, it has always attracted the elites and master craftsmen of Jingdezhen’s ceramic arts. Although it produced porcelain exclusively for the emperor, it objectively created a wealth of treasured ceramic artworks for the Chinese nation. While many were lost overseas, numerous ceramic treasures are still preserved in the Palace Museum and displayed to visitors from around the world.

The Imperial Kiln Factory symbolizes the official kilns and is the cradle of ceramic art treasures. Throughout history, it has been shrouded in mystery and curiosity. Representing the highest level of Chinese ceramic technology and artistry during the Ming and Qing dynasties, the existing site and its surrounding environment serve as important references for studying the historical evolution, management system, and firing techniques of the Imperial Kiln Factory, as well as the development trajectory of the historic city of Jingdezhen. As the most advanced country in ancient global ceramic craftsmanship, China's Imperial Kiln Factory stands as a representation of the pinnacle of Chinese ceramics. Therefore, the Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Factory is truly worthy of being called the center of the world's ancient ceramic industry, having made indelible contributions to the global ceramic industry and possessing irreplaceable historical, scientific, and artistic value worldwide. The Imperial Kiln Site is a national key cultural relics protection unit, and its archaeological findings were awarded one of the “Top Ten New Archaeological Discoveries in China” in 2003. It is among the first batch of 100 major sites supported by the state, a key candidate for the national archaeological site park project, a major protected and exhibited archaeological site under the national 12th Five-Year Plan, and a demonstration site for the protection and exhibition of major archaeological sites under the same plan.

Open Attractions:

Official Kiln Museum: After years of organization, using the method of “multi-tier classification and series restoration,” over a thousand pieces of high-quality official kiln ceramics unearthed from the Imperial Kiln Site have been restored. A number of rare “peerless treasures” of porcelain and cultural relics have been unveiled and are now housed in this museum. The museum displays a large number of restored artifacts excavated from the Ming and Qing Imperial Kiln Sites, most of which are rare and unique items seldom seen elsewhere, with reliable dating, providing a chronological benchmark for visitors. Precious collections include a large underglaze red floral bowl from the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, a sweet white three-pot connected vessel from the Yongle period, a blue-and-white cricket jar with dragon patterns from the Xuande period, and a doucai high-minded scholar cup from the Chenghua period.

Ceramic Miniature Landscape “Imperial Kiln Factory”: Based on relevant literature such as “Jingdezhen Tao Lu” and “Tao Ye Tu,” this piece took four years of design and creation and was produced using high-temperature firing of ceramic materials. Nearly a thousand related ceramic production and daily life objects were used to vividly recreate the former glory of the Imperial Kiln Factory’s production scene, earning recognition as a Guinness World Record.

Imperial Kiln Craft Museum: Through various forms, it showcases the history and heritage of Imperial Kiln porcelain-making techniques, raw materials and kiln tools, the processes of forming, painting, and coloring imperial porcelain, as well as the history of emperors managing the kiln and officials supervising artisans. It also displays a large collection of replicated ancient royal porcelain masterpieces.

Imperial Kiln Site Conservation Houses (two locations): Archaeological excavations have uncovered many important sites and a large number of artifacts, achieving significant results. Awarded the Second Prize for Field Archaeology in 2003–2004. Displayed remains include walls, kilns, and pits where disqualified imperial porcelain was buried. These findings are of great significance to the study of Ming Dynasty official kilns, especially Ming porcelain, providing new scientific data for researching the scope, firing techniques, product features, and management systems of early to mid-Ming Imperial Kilns.

You Tao Ling Ci (Shrine of the Pottery God): A shrine established by the government for the kiln worker Tong Bin, also known as the “Temple of the Wind-Fire Immortal.” The shrine houses a statue of the Wind-Fire Immortal, Tong Bin, flanked by statues of various types of kiln workers such as clay shapers, carriers, foot collectors, assistants, and general laborers.

Dragon Pearl Pavilion: On Zhushan Mountain stands a pavilion with red walls and yellow tiles, featuring double eaves, upturned corners, carved beams, and painted rafters—elegant and dignified. The pavilion was originally built during the Tang Dynasty and was called the Juzhu Pavilion. After renovation in the Song Dynasty, it was renamed Zhongli Pavilion. Rebuilt during the Tianshun era of the Ming Dynasty, it was called Chaotian Pavilion, renamed Bingli Hall in the Chenghua era, and then Huancui Pavilion in the Wanli era. In the Yongzheng era of the Qing Dynasty, it became known as Wenchang Pavilion. It was rebuilt in 1925 and named Dragon Pearl Pavilion. The current Dragon Pearl Pavilion before you was reconstructed starting in 1989 and completed in October 1990 at the opening of the first “China Porcelain Capital – Jingdezhen International Ceramic Festival.” In 2012, with attention and support from higher-level cultural relics authorities, the Dragon Pearl Pavilion underwent renovation and was turned into a leisure space for citizens.

The Dragon Pearl Pavilion features displays such as curved-screen films, Imperial Kiln relics, voices of potters, ceramic music performances, and experiences with new Imperial Kiln products.

Ground

Address: No. 187, Zhushan Middle Road, Jingdezhen City

Contact Number: 0798-8201378

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units