Site of Bayi Kiln

Site of Bayi Kiln

The Site of Bayi Kiln is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Shanxi Province.

Site of Bayi Kiln

Site of Bayi Kiln (First Batch of Provincial-Level Protected Sites)

Era: Song Dynasty

Location: Bayi Village, Bayi Town, Zhangzi County

The kiln site is distributed to the north of the village, stretching 300 meters from east to west and 200 meters from north to south. The porcelain kilns have been destroyed, but the surface reveals a large number of remaining white-glazed brown-patterned ceramic fragments. Some exposed cross-sections of the site show abundant accumulations of ceramic pieces and firing materials. Surveys and excavations were conducted in the 1950s, during which 18 kiln sites were discovered. Research on the collected ceramics and fragments confirmed that the site was an active kiln during the Song Dynasty.

Judging from the ceramic fragments collected from the site and the unearthed artifacts, the kiln mainly produced daily-use items such as bowls, plates, and cups, supplemented by toys, figurines, and wine vessels. The glaze colors of the ceramics include red, white, black, and green. The decorative patterns feature incised, molded, and carved designs. Particularly notable is the kiln’s unique overglaze decoration in red and green, which is truly exceptional. The site produced a wide variety of ceramics with pure glaze colors, belonging to the Cizhou Kiln tradition of northern China.

Further Reading:

· First Batch of Provincial-Level Cultural Heritage Protected Sites in Shanxi Province