Ceramics are a treasure of China and an important calling card of Chinese civilization
2024-11-05
Cultural prosperity leads to national prosperity, and a strong culture leads to a strong nation. On October 11, 2023, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out during his inspection and research in Jingdezhen City that the excellent traditional Chinese culture has never ceased since ancient times, and ceramics are Chinese treasures and important business cards of Chinese civilization. After a year, we revisit General Secretary Xi Jinping's speech once again, still full of excitement and encouragement. The smelting of pottery in Xinping began in the Han Dynasty. Jingdezhen has a long history of porcelain making, with over 2000 years of pottery making history, over 1000 years of official kiln history, and over 600 years of imperial kiln history. It is a world-renowned porcelain capital. On June 2, 2023, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized at the Symposium on Cultural Heritage and Development that Chinese culture has a long history, Chinese civilization is profound and extensive, and Chinese civilization has outstanding continuity, innovation, unity, inclusiveness, and peace. Ceramic culture is an important symbol of excellent traditional Chinese culture, occupying an extremely important position in the cultural history of our country, and is also an important component of Chinese civilization. We should cherish and inherit ceramic culture even more, so that it can continue to flourish as a treasure of Chinese civilization. From the perspective of ceramic culture, the continuity of Chinese civilization is prominent. Chinese civilization has a long and rich history, with a diverse cultural heritage. Ceramic culture plays an extremely important role in these cultural heritages. Ceramics are the calling card of China and the language of the world. Ceramic culture highlights the outstanding continuity of Chinese civilization, demonstrating strong cultural subjectivity and vigorous vitality. Firstly, Chinese civilization has demonstrated a continuous inheritance in ceramic production. The history of ceramic production in our country can be traced back thousands of years to the Neolithic Age. Through continuous practice and summarization, ancient Chinese ceramic makers gradually developed unique ceramic production techniques and processes. These technologies and processes have been passed down from generation to generation, continuously improved and perfected, and are still preserved and inherited today. For example, tri colored ceramics from the Tang Dynasty, celadon from the Song Dynasty, and Jingdezhen porcelain from the Yuan Dynasty are all products of continuous development and innovation based on previous generations. This continuous inheritance enables Chinese ceramic culture to maintain continuity in the long river of history and become a unique symbol of Chinese civilization. Secondly, ceramic culture carries rich historical and cultural connotations in Chinese civilization. Ceramic objects are not only simple practical crafts, but also works of art with profound historical and cultural significance. Ceramic artifacts contain information from various aspects of ancient society, including politics, economy, religion, culture, and more. For example, the pottery figurines of the Han Dynasty are a representation of social life at that time, while the blue porcelain of the Song Dynasty showcases the aesthetic pursuit and artistic style of society at that time. These ceramic objects, as cultural carriers, have been passed down from generation to generation, forming the continuity of Chinese civilization. By appreciating and studying these ceramic objects, people can not only understand the history and culture of ancient society, but also feel the inheritance and continuation of Chinese civilization. Once again, ceramic culture has also shown a characteristic of keeping up with the times in Chinese civilization. Although the production technology and craftsmanship of ceramic objects inherit ancient experience, in the long river of history, ceramic culture has also continuously combined with the development of the times, constantly innovating and improving. For example, in the Ming Dynasty, Jingdezhen porcelain introduced new decorative techniques and shape designs on the basis of inheriting traditional techniques, making it more in line with the aesthetic needs of the society at that time. This characteristic of keeping up with the times indicates that the ceramic culture of Chinese civilization not only has continuity, but also vitality and innovation. From the perspective of ceramic culture, the outstanding innovation of Chinese civilization is evident. China is a country with a long history, and its civilization has achieved many remarkable accomplishments to this day. Among them, ceramic culture, as an important part of Chinese civilization, shows the innovative spirit and outstanding talent of our people, and highlights the innovation of Chinese civilization. Firstly, Chinese civilization has demonstrated outstanding innovation in ceramic production. China's ceramic production technology enjoys a high reputation in the world, especially representative ceramic firing processes such as Ru kiln, Ding kiln, and Ge kiln. These ceramic crafts not only focus on material selection and exquisite craftsmanship in the production process, but also emphasize innovation. For example, the "thin mold thick glaze" technique adopted by the Ru kiln in the Song Dynasty made ceramic objects more solid and durable, while the glaze surface was as smooth as jade, giving people a sense of purity and elegance. This innovative technique enhances the quality and aesthetic appeal of ceramic production, becoming a unique artistic expression of Chinese civilization. Secondly, ceramic culture has also demonstrated a pursuit of technological innovation in Chinese civilization. Some techniques in ancient Chinese ceramic production, such as glaze color control and decorative pattern creation, required the use of high-temperature firing technology. This requires the creator to be familiar with furnace burning techniques, accurately grasp parameters such as temperature and combustion time. In order to solve these problems, ancient Chinese ceramic makers creatively invented a series of furnace technologies and equipment, such as dragon kilns, dragon head kilns, etc. These technological innovations have provided reliable technical support for ceramic production, promoted the prosperity and development of ceramic culture, and also demonstrated the spirit of our people's pursuit of scientific and technological progress and innovation. Once again, ceramic culture has also demonstrated integration and innovation with other cultures in Chinese civilization. The opening of the ancient Silk Road in China provided an opportunity for cultural exchange between China and foreign countries. Ceramics, as an important trade item, spread to various parts of the world through the Silk Road. This cross-cultural exchange promotes innovation in ceramic culture, draws on the essence of foreign cultures, and makes Chinese ceramic art more diverse and rich. For example, after the Song Dynasty, blue and white porcelain absorbed decorative patterns from Central Asia and the Arab region, forming a unique style of Chinese blue and white porcelain. This cultural integration and innovation have brought new possibilities for the development of Chinese civilization. From the perspective of ceramic culture, the prominent unity of Chinese civilization is known for its long history and diverse cultural heritage. Among these cultural heritages, ceramic culture is an important manifestation of the unity of Chinese civilization. Ceramics have a wide range of inheritance and development in Chinese culture, highlighting the unity of Chinese civilization and demonstrating the pursuit of diversity, unity, and concentration. Firstly, the ceramic culture of Chinese civilization reflects regional unity. China has a vast territory, numerous ethnic groups, and diverse cultures. However, ceramics, as a ubiquitous art and daily necessities, carry the essence of the entire Chinese culture. Both the bronze ware culture in the north and the ceramic production in the south express the people's pursuit of a better life and the inheritance of cultural traditions. The ceramic craftsmanship and decorative styles in different regions vary in details, but overall they showcase the cultural characteristics of the unity of Chinese civilization. Secondly, ceramic culture has demonstrated the unity of history in Chinese civilization. Since ancient times, China's ceramic production has adhered to relatively stable processes and technologies, forming a unique tradition of ceramic production. From the painted pottery of the Neolithic Age to the celadon of the Tang and Song dynasties, and then to the Jingdezhen porcelain of the Ming and Qing dynasties, these ceramic works maintain a relatively stable style and characteristics. The inheritance and development of ceramic production technology have made ancient Chinese ceramics present continuity and unity in history, and are an important part of Chinese civilization. Again, ceramic culture also reflects the unity of spiritual concepts in Chinese civilization. Ceramics, as a decorative and practical item, often revolve around traditional cultural symbols and imagery, expressing people's beliefs, values, and aesthetic views. For example, divine beasts such as dragons, phoenixes, and qilins have special symbolic meanings in Chinese culture and are often used for the decoration of ceramics. These common spiritual concepts and symbolic symbols connect various periods and regions of Chinese civilization, reflecting the unity and inward gathering of the Chinese nation. From the perspective of ceramic culture, the outstanding inclusiveness of Chinese civilization is renowned for its long history and diverse cultural heritage. Among these cultural heritages, ceramic culture is an important manifestation of the inclusiveness of Chinese civilization. Ceramics, as a traditional art form, highlight the inclusiveness of Chinese civilization and embody an open mind that embraces diversity. Firstly, the ceramic culture of Chinese civilization reflects the inclusiveness among different ethnic groups. China is a multi-ethnic country, and each ethnic group has its own characteristics in culture, language, and beliefs. However, as a common art and daily necessities, ceramics integrate the creative concepts and skills of different ethnic groups, showcasing the spirit of integration of the Chinese nation. Whether it's Han Chinese blue and white porcelain, Tibetan thangka ceramics, or Uyghur pottery, they all represent communication and tolerance between different ethnic groups. The diversity of ceramic works reflects the respect and acceptance of different ethnic cultures by Chinese civilization. Secondly, ceramic culture has demonstrated the inclusiveness of history in Chinese civilization. China is a country with a long history, and ceramic production has played an important role in different historical periods. From ancient painted pottery to modern Jingdezhen porcelain, these ceramic works preserve the styles and characteristics of different historical periods, witnessing the evolution and inclusiveness of Chinese civilization. Ceramic art in each historical period has developed within its own historical context and absorbed elements from other cultures, forming unique styles and forms. The inclusiveness of ceramics reflects the respect and tolerance of Chinese civilization towards history. Again, ceramic culture also reflects the inclusiveness of ideological concepts in Chinese civilization. Ceramics, as an art form, often revolve around traditional cultural symbols and imagery, containing rich symbolism and symbolism. The ideological systems of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism in traditional Chinese culture have been widely expressed and inherited in ceramics. Whether it is the Confucian values of benevolence, righteousness, and morality, the Buddhist wisdom of Bodhi, or the Taoist concept of nature, these different ideas are integrated into ceramic works, forming a unique artistic language. The inclusiveness of ceramics reflects the acceptance and respect of different ideas and concepts in Chinese civilization. From the perspective of ceramic culture, the prominent peace of Chinese civilization is renowned worldwide for its long history and diverse cultural heritage. Among these cultural heritages, ceramic culture is an important manifestation of the peace of Chinese civilization. Ceramics, as a traditional art form, highlight the peace of Chinese civilization and have always inherited the concepts of peace, harmony, and harmony. First of all, ceramic culture reflects the yearning and pursuit of peace of our people. Ceramic works often revolve around the themes of harmony and tranquility, showcasing the Chinese civilization's yearning and appreciation for peace, harmony, and harmony. For example, ancient blue and white porcelain works often feature natural elements such as flowers, birds, mountains, and rivers as their themes, expressing the pursuit of harmonious coexistence with nature. At the same time, some ceramic works also express the longing for harmonious coexistence between families and society through themes such as folk life and reunion. Ceramic works, with their unique artistic language, convey a beautiful vision and pursuit of peace, harmony, and harmony. Secondly, ceramic culture has played an important role in promoting peaceful exchanges in Chinese civilization. Ceramics, as a medium of cultural exchange, have spread to various parts of the world through trade and travel. Jingdezhen, Yixing and other places in China have become world-renowned ceramic production areas due to their unique ceramic making techniques. Through the exchange of ceramics, connections and friendships have been established between different countries and cultures, promoting the development of peace and understanding. Ceramics, as a common art form, have built bridges between different cultures and promoted cultural exchange and integration. Again, ceramics