Zhonghe Kiln Site

Zhonghe Kiln Site

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

Zhonghe Kiln Site

The Zhonghe Kiln Site was a private kiln active from the late Northern Song to the late Southern Song Dynasty, primarily producing porcelain for export. On August 25, 1981, the People's Government of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region designated it as a Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

The kiln site is situated on the east bank of the Beiliu River, approximately 10 kilometers from the county seat, in Zhonghe Village, Tengzhou Town, Tengxian County (formerly Chengguan Township, also known as Laoyatang in old records when part of Tanzhong Town). Over 20 porcelain kilns are mainly distributed near the Zhonghe Village Committee, spread across a small hill about 2 kilometers long and 0.5 kilometers wide along the Beiliu River. Today, the kiln boxes (saggers) used for firing porcelain still pile up in mountains and are scattered everywhere. In the past, it was common to see locals using these saggars as building materials or for paving roads. The abundance of these remnants is undoubtedly the best evidence of the large-scale production that once took place here.

The structure of the Zhonghe Kiln features sloping dragon kilns built along the mountain terrain, taking a rectangular shape. It is divided into four parts: the kiln door, fire chamber, kiln bed, and chimney. There were no uniform standards for the length and width of the kilns; generally, they measured 10–60 meters in length and 1.5–3 meters in width. In terms of firing methods, the early period used the single-sagger upright firing technique, while the later period also adopted the stacked firing method. The use of saggars prevented the pottery from direct contact with flames, reduced contamination, and improved the smoothness and sheen of the finished products.

Zhonghe porcelain features elegant shapes and a rich variety of styles, including various types of bowls, cups, plates, saucers, lids, washbasins, boxes, jars, pots, bottles, lamps, stoves, basins, incense burners, spirit vases, pillows, waist drums, and printing molds. Daily-use items such as bowls, cups, plates, and saucers were the main products. The porcelain body is fine, white, thin, yet hard, and produces a metallic sound when struck. The glaze is glossy, semi-transparent, and bluish-white. Shadow-blue glaze was the primary type used, followed by white glaze. The glazing is even, and the bond between body and glaze is tight. The shapes of the ware are diverse: pots, bottles, and jars often resemble fruits, while bowls, cups, plates, and saucers frequently take on petal-like forms.

Zhonghe porcelain is adorned with rich and varied decorations, featuring neat and precise patterns with clear and flowing lines, often inspired by themes of folk life. The main decorative motifs include entwined floral designs—such as cut flowers, scrolling vines, curled leaves, swimming fish in seas, playful children in waves, aquatic plants, and birds. A wide variety of printing molds are found. The porcelain molds come in shapes such as pointed mushroom, hemispherical mushroom, and flat-top styles. The engraved patterns on the molds are either intaglio or relief, giving them distinctive characteristics. One bird-and-flower printing mold bears an inscription on the back reading “Made in the spring of the Ji Si Year (1238), the second year of the Jiàxī era, by Nian Long Can.”

The kiln site was discovered during the 1963 cultural relics survey in the Wuzhou region. The Autonomous Region Museum conducted two separate trial excavations in collaboration with Sun Yat-sen University, clearing two kilns. Li Huibing, then Deputy Secretary-General of the China Ancient Ceramics Research Association, visited the site for investigation twice.

The discovery of the Zhonghe Kiln Site in Tengxian County has expanded the known distribution of Qingbai (bluish-white) porcelain kilns in China, filled a research gap regarding Qingbai porcelain in Guangxi, and provided new material for studying the history of Chinese ceramics and ancient export ceramics. It is also of great significance for researching the handicraft industry, socio-economic conditions, culture, and foreign friendly exchanges—especially with ASEAN countries—during the Song Dynasty in Guangxi.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units