Ancient Kiln Site at Yujing, Yunshan

Ancient Kiln Site at Yujing, Yunshan

The Ancient Kiln Site at Yujing, Yunshan is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Ancient Kiln Site at Yujing, Yunshan

Dating back to the Song Dynasty, it is located in Yujing Village, Yunshan Town, Jiangyong County, Hunan Province. This is a large-scale Song Dynasty kiln site with extremely rich cultural significance in southern Hunan.

The site covers an area of over one square kilometer, comprising more than 10 large pottery kilns and over 30 medium and small-sized ones. Each large kiln consists of 4 to 6 individual kilns arranged in a dragon-like formation, also known as a "dragon kiln" or "linked kiln." Individual kilns measure about 2–5 meters in length, and the entire kiln complex can extend over 20 meters. Several kilns share a water pond covering approximately 1,000 square meters, formed during the digging for clay and water in pottery production. The cultural deposit layer is about 1.5–3 meters thick.

Based on pottery fragments, there are thousands of varieties, mostly bowls, plates, cups, saucers, cauldrons, jars, and pots. Each type can be further divided into many subcategories. Most pieces are glazed with colors such as red, yellow, green, blue, cyan, ochre, purple, and orange, glossy and translucent, adorned with various patterns, inscriptions, and depictions of flowers, birds, insects, and fish. The exquisite craftsmanship and advanced firing techniques fully demonstrate the prosperity of the local economy and commerce during the Song Dynasty, possessing significant historical, artistic, and scientific value.

On May 19, 2002, the People's Government of Hunan Province designated it as a Provincial-Level Cultural Relics Protection Unit, with the serial number 111-5.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units