The Cultural Change of Kilns and Contents of Export Ceramics on the Perspective of Development of Zhangzhou Seaports During Ming and Qing Dynasties

Abstract

Since the Mid Ming Dynasty, the retreating of the sea ban policy of imperial court encouraged the developing of the maritime trade controlled by the private merchants in the southeast coast of China, escpecially in the maritime areas of Zhangzhou including two sub-regions as the west part from Nan'ao to Yuegang port, and the east part from Xiamen to Anhai port. The prosperity and cultural change of these seaports in Zhangzhou Bay had influenced and promoted the production of Chinese export porcelain in the regions next to the seaports for oversea trade. The arrival of European merchants as a segment of maritime globalization and their active trade with the local people further promoted the prosperous developing of export porcelain industry of this region during the late of Ming and Qing dynasties.