Luoyang Tang Tri-color Pottery

Luoyang Tang Tri-color Pottery

Luoyang Tang Tri-color Pottery is a protected geographical indication product.

Luoyang Tang Tri-color Pottery is a national intangible cultural heritage.

　　Luoyang Tang Tri-color Pottery comes in a wide variety of forms and rich content, covering all aspects of social life at that time. Tang Tri-color pottery was mainly used as funerary objects, including figurines and household utensils. The figurine category mainly consists of human and animal figures. The human figures cover a broad range of subjects, including women, civil officials, and warriors. Tang Tri-color female figurines are modeled after vivid female figures from the Tang Dynasty society, including standing, seated, dancing, singing, horse-riding, and mirror-grooming figurines. They emphasize portraying Tang women with free posture, plump faces, delicate skin, slender hands, and soft feet. Civil official figurines represent the image of scholarly officials in the Tang Dynasty, who held high social status and enjoyed comfortable living conditions. But “serving an emperor is like serving a tiger,” so these figures appear quiet and dignified, with deep thoughts and extraordinary bearing. Though dressed in neat attire with tall hats and wide sashes, their inner anxiety remains visible. Warrior figurines are a reflection of the military might of the Tang Dynasty, often depicted as handsome young soldiers, some standing, others on horseback, drawing bows and shooting arrows. The Hu people, music and dance, and acrobatic figurines in Tang Tri-color pottery showcase another facet of the diversity and richness of life in the Tang Dynasty, presenting a scene of boundless variety and vibrant colors. These figures also depict the friendly coexistence between the Central Plains and various ethnic groups on the frontiers during the prosperous Tang era, as well as frequent exchanges with foreign countries.

　　Over 300 varieties of Tang Tri-color pottery have been unearthed in Luoyang, vividly reflecting the prosperous social scene and exquisite glaze pottery craftsmanship of the time. The high-necked bottle unearthed at Xiangshan in Longmen, Luoyang, was made in imitation of the ritual vessel known as a “purity water bottle” used in Buddhist practices, while dragon-headed cups and phoenix-headed ewers were modeled after the popular animal-headed cups and flat ewers from Western Asia.

　　Analysis of Tang Tri-color artifacts unearthed in recent years shows that the peak period of Tang Tri-color production was during the High Tang era, characterized by a rich variety of forms, exquisite craftsmanship, and massive output. After the Tianbao era, the quantity gradually decreased. Following the An Lushan Rebellion, production entered its final phase and gradually declined. The Tang Tri-color glaze technique influenced both Song and Qing dynasty tri-color pottery. In Japan, it inspired the creation of so-called “Nara Tri-color,” and on the Korean Peninsula, it led to the development of “Silla Tri-color.” Tri-color bowls have been unearthed in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, and Tang Tri-color pottery has been found in present-day Iraq, Iran, Syria, Egypt, and Sudan—testament to the high regard locals had for it. This also serves as important evidence of Luoyang’s cultural exchange and trade relations with foreign countries during the Tang Dynasty. In 1976, kiln sites and workshops for making Tang Tri-color pottery were discovered in Xiaohuangye and Dahuangye near Gongyi City (known as Luozhou Gong County during the Tang Dynasty), not far from Luoyang. Research confirmed that these were major production centers for Luoyang Tang Tri-color pottery at the time.

　　The production process of Tang Tri-color pottery is highly complex. Except for a small number of red clay bases fired from ordinary pottery clay, most are made using relatively pure white kaolin clay. This type of clay is highly malleable and does not crack when dried. The production process of Tang Tri-color pottery is quite intricate: first, the kaolin clay is pounded, washed, filtered, and shaped into molds. Then, the formed pieces are fired in a kiln at around 1,100°C. After removal, colored glazes are applied, and the pieces are fired again in a kiln at about 900°C under an oxidizing flame to produce a dazzling array of colorful items. The main component of the tri-color glaze is aluminum silicate, while coloring agents consist of various metal oxides—for example, light yellow comes from iron or antimony, brown-yellow from iron, green from copper, blue from copper or cobalt, and purple from manganese. The three most commonly used colors are yellow, green, and white, along with blue, ochre, purple, and black. The lead-based flux in the glaze allows it to flow on the fired objects, creating rich and splendid variations. Although called “tri-color,” the actual variety of glaze hues is extensive, far exceeding just three colors.

　　Tang Tri-color pottery is a dazzling gem in the treasure trove of ancient Chinese ceramic art and represents the essence of Tang Dynasty arts and crafts. It incorporates the strengths of Chinese painting, sculpture, and other craft arts, using decorative patterns such as printing, appliqué, and carving. Its shapes are robust and full-bodied, meticulously crafted, with simple yet smooth lines, showcasing a unique artistic style and distinct national characteristics.

　　Since the discovery of the first batch of Tang Tri-color pottery in Luoyang during the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty, antique dealers from China and abroad have flocked to Luoyang, eager to purchase them at high prices. To meet the demand from the antiquities community at the time, workshops producing imitation Tang Tri-color pottery emerged in the Luoyang area, marking the beginning of replica production. However, these imitations were crude and of poor quality. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, under the attention of central leadership, specialized institutions were established to study the production techniques of Tang Tri-color pottery, elevating the craftsmanship and technical standards of “Luoyang Tang Tri-color” to new heights. Today, there are dozens of factories in Luoyang producing Tang Tri-color pottery, among which the “Jiudu Brand” Tang Tri-color produced by the Luoyang Artistic Ceramics Factory is the most renowned.

　　Luoyang Tang Tri-color pottery has been presented as a precious national gift to heads of state and government leaders in over 30 countries. Today, Tang Tri-color pottery remains a traditional export commodity of the ancient capital Luoyang, sold to more than 50 countries and regions around the world, and is highly favored by people across the globe.