Chaozhou Ceramic Inlay

Chaozhou Ceramic Inlay

Chaozhou ceramic inlay is a national intangible cultural heritage.

　　Chaozhou ceramic inlay is a specialized craft that involves cutting and assembling colorful ceramic tiles into decorative shapes for architectural embellishment or as standalone ornaments. Its artistic features include grand compositions, vibrant colors, vivid imagery, sturdy texture, and resistance to fading even after prolonged exposure to wind, rain, or scorching sunlight.

　　Chaozhou ceramic inlay first appeared among the public during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1573–1620). At that time, Chaozhou had a thriving ceramics industry and a flourishing folk sculpture scene. The creative idea of cutting simple floral patterns from ceramic tiles and inlaying them on buildings emerged.

　　During the Qing Dynasty, the use of ceramic inlay to decorate ancestral halls and residential houses became more widespread across Chaozhou. By the late Qing Dynasty, ceramic workshops and inlay artisans collaborated to produce a variety of colored ceramic bowls specifically for cutting and assembling into flat, relief, or three-dimensional floral designs, birds, beasts, and opera characters, used to adorn buildings or garden interiors. Chaozhou ceramic inlay eventually evolved into a uniquely distinctive folk craft.

　　In 2011, Chaozhou ceramic inlay was included in the third batch of the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.