The Characteristics and Influencing Factors of the Colour of the Cizhou Kiln Porcelain

Abstract

Chinese ceramic art boasts a rich and diverse history, and the colours of porcelain produced by different kilns reflect the aesthetic preferences, socio-cultural developments, and historical contexts of various periods and regions. Among the folk kilns in China, the Cizhou kiln stands out for its unique black-and-white colour scheme. While existing studies have extensively analyzed the history, decorative patterns, and shapes of Cizhou porcelain, few have explored the colour characteristics of the kiln and the factors that influence them. Therefore, this study aims to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the colour characteristics of Cizhou porcelain and shed light on the underlying factors that shape them. Methods: In this study, a dataset comprising 50 images of ancient Chinese porcelain and 50 images of Cizhou kiln porcelain was sourced from the internet. The main colours of each porcelain were extracted to construct the Ancient Chinese Porcelain Palette and the Cizhou Kiln Porcelain Palette, respectively, to analyze the colour characteristics of Cizhou kiln porcelain by comparing them to those of Ancient Chinese Porcelain. It was found that the porcelain from the Cizhou kiln is mainly black and white, with sharp contrast and simplicity, reflecting a unique aesthetic style. In addition, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a docent of the Cizhou Kiln Historical Museum, local potters, and the owner of a porcelain shop to verify the results of the image analysis and explore the factors that influence the colour of the porcelain. The interview results were coded at three levels to extract keywords regarding the characteristics and influencing factors of the colour of the porcelain of the Cizhou kiln.Results: The study revealed that the colours of the Cizhou kiln porcelain are mainly black and white, and they are mainly influenced by the period, region, and social culture. Firstly, the unique colour style of the Cizhou kiln porcelain developed during the Song Dynasty, but it changed over time with changes in the social environment, aesthetic concepts, and production process. Secondly, the rugged and bold character of the local inhabitants and the mineral raw materials unique to the region also influenced the choice of colour. Lastly, the Cizhou kiln is a civil kiln with more artistic freedom compared to official kilns, reflecting folk aesthetic interests and presenting bold, natural, and simple colours.Research Significance: This study of the Cizhou kilns from the perspective of colour is of great significance for a deeper understanding of the porcelain of the Cizhou kiln and provides helpful insights for exploring the trajectory of the development of traditional Chinese ceramic art and aesthetic changes. The results of the study can contribute to the innovation and promotion of the development and dissemination of ceramic art in contemporary society. Furthermore, the study results in a model of the colour-influencing factors of the porcelain of the Cizhou kiln, which is of extensive reference significance for the investigation of the reasons for the formation of the colours of other porcelain.