Chiayi City Koji Pottery Museum

Chiayi City Koji Pottery Museum

The Koji Pottery Museum is located in the basement of the Chiayi City Cultural Center on Zhongxiao Road in Chiayi City and was officially opened on May 13, 1990.

Koji pottery originated from Han green glaze and was deeply influenced by Qing Dynasty export trade ceramics as well as the popularity of low-temperature glazes. From early monochrome, tri-color, and five-color pottery to today’s vibrant multi-colored Koji pottery, Koji pottery is a type of low-temperature polychrome pottery, referred to as “Chiayi Ware” in Japan. Since most contemporary Koji pottery artists learned their craft in Chiayi, the city is known as the hometown of Koji pottery, and the first Koji Pottery Art Festival was held there in 1997.

Introduction

The Chiayi City Koji Pottery Museum introduces the history and related information about the development of Taiwanese Koji pottery, allowing visitors to experience and appreciate the beauty of Koji pottery firsthand. The museum is divided into six major sections: Section 1 / The Beauty of Koji Pottery, Section 2 / The Origins of Koji Pottery, Section 3 / Koji Pottery and Architectural Decoration, Section 4 / Innovations in Koji Pottery, Section 5 / Contemporary Artists' Area, and Section 6 / Special Exhibition Area, illustrating the evolution and innovation of Koji pottery over the years.

In addition, there is a Children's Creation Area displaying works by young artists; the Little Koji Pottery House – consisting of five simulated kilns equipped with computer multimedia that allow children to learn about Koji pottery through interactive technology; the museum also features a Koji Pottery Glazed Poetry Screen area showcasing verses about Koji pottery written by Chiayi poet Chen Jianhun; and it has invited twenty contemporary Koji pottery masters to create a “Wall of Rivalry,” using pieces from different schools of art to reflect the diversity of styles, all in the spirit of preserving and passing on the heritage of Koji pottery.

Schools of Koji Pottery

Koji pottery can be divided into two main systems: the gem-glazed school represented by Ye Wang (Ye Linzhi) and the watercolor-glazed school represented by Ke Xun. Originally named Ye Shi with the courtesy name Linzhi, Ye Wang was from Zhuoluo Damao (now Minxiong Township in Chiayi County) and is regarded as the founding father of Taiwanese Koji pottery. He is also the first documented Koji pottery artist born in Taiwan. He oversaw the renovation project of the Chiayi Chenghuang Temple, among which the Zheng Family Temple in Hsinchu (designated as a third-grade historic site) is one of his masterpieces.