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Visit Henan, Explore China Episode III: China's Earliest White Porcelain Unearthed in Henan
Source：dahe.cn
Published：2022-08-08 07:09
Editor's note: In a letter replying to senior experts at the National Museum of China on July 8, 2022, President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stressed firming up cultural confidence, preserving the fine accomplishments of Chinese civilization and using cultural relics to promote exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations. Henan, with the largest number of ancient kiln sites, has produced the most complete range of ceramic products in China. Generally speaking, the Henan-centered Chinese ceramic culture could be considered as one of the important cultural heritages nurtured by the Yellow River culture. Starting on August 2, we are launching the "Visit Henan, Explore China" series, featuring 6 short videos to help you catch a glimpse of wonderful Henan and brilliant Chinese civilization. Here is the third episode: China's Earliest White Porcelain Unearthed in Henan.
编者按：2022年7月8日，习近平总书记在给中国国家博物馆老专家的回信中强调，推动文物活化利用，推进文明交流互鉴，守护好、传承好、展示好中华文明优秀成果。作为文物大省的河南，不仅是中国品种最全的陶瓷产区，而且还是拥有古陶瓷窑址数量最多的省份，可以说以河南为中心的中国陶瓷文化是黄河文化孕育出的重要文化遗产之一。2022年8月2日起，大河网推出6期双语特别报道——“在河南，遇见China”。让我们一起，通过陶瓷文化，“豫”见中华文明。今日推出第三期：《在河南，邂逅中国最早的白瓷》。
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NB: This is not a word-for-word transcript
In last episode, we learned the history of China's earliest porcelain - primitive porcelain. Today, let's explore the world of white porcelain.
在上一期报道中，我们了解了中国瓷器的鼻祖——原始瓷。今天，让我们跟着镜头一起走进白瓷的世界。
A screenshot from the video above
China's Wei, Jin, and Southern and Northern dynasties (220-589) witnessed the most frequent regime changes. Due to wars and conflicts, Henan's porcelain production was also hindered. However, in the Northern Dynasty (386-581), white porcelain appeared and exerted a great influence on the later porcelain.
魏晋南北朝（220-589年）是中国历史上政权更迭最频繁的时期。由于长期的封建割据和连绵不断的战争，中原一带的瓷器生产也遭到严重破坏。然而到了北朝时期，却出现了一种独特、而且对后世有着深远影响的陶瓷品种——白瓷。
A white porcelain of the Tang Dynasty. [Photo/dahe.cn]
White porcelain appeared in the late Northern Dynasty, boasting a history of more than 1,500 years. Its appearance ended the dominant role of celadon porcelain played in China since the Shang Dynasty (16th-11th century BC). White porcelain wares unearthed from the tomb of Fan Cui of the Northern Qi Dynasty, are the earliest ones ever seen in today's China.
白瓷历史悠久，烧于北朝晚期，距今已有1500余年的历史。白瓷的出现打破了自商代以来，青瓷一统天下的局面。河南安阳北齐范粹墓出土的白瓷，是中国迄今为止所能见到的最早白瓷。
A white porcelain unearthed from Fan Cui's tomb. [Photo/dahe.cn]
The picture above shows us a white porcelain of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), not only beautiful in shape, but also excellent in quality. Entirely covered in fine white glaze, it almost meets the standards of today's white porcelain.
上图是一件唐朝时期的白瓷，不仅造型优美，而且瓷质优良，通体施白釉，釉层细腻透明，近乎达到了现代白瓷所要求的工艺标准。
A white porcelain of the Tang Dynasty. [Photo/dahe.cn]
Henan has been able to produce high-quality white porcelain since the Northern Dynasty. Gongyi kiln and Xiangzhou kiln in Henan were famous nationwide at that time and had a lasting influence on the later porcelain firing techniques. During the Sui (581-618) and Tang dynasties, white porcelain wares produced by Xingyao kiln in Hebei province and Gongyi kiln in Henan province were the best. Not only was Gongyi kiln a best producer for white porcelains in Central Plains during the Tang Dynasty, but also the one producing royal white porcelain during the Kaiyuan period (713-741) of the Tang.
河南白瓷精品出现在北朝，巩义窑和相州窑都曾烧制出非常精致的白瓷，对中国古代瓷器的烧造有着非常深远的影响。到了隋、唐时期，尤以河北邢窑与河南巩义窑所产的白瓷质量最为精致。巩义窑不仅是唐代中原地区白瓷制造水平最高的窑口，而且还是文献记载河南府开元年间贡白瓷的产地。
策划：王曦辉 张培君
文案：赵汉青
出镜：杨佳欣
制作：何蒙贺
审校：陈行洁
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Visit Henan, Explore China Episode II: Primitive Porcelain, Not Primitive at All
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Editor：Zhao Hanqing