Tang Dynasty Porcelain (White Ware)

Timeline

1. 581–600Xingzhou · HebeiAfter the Sui unified north and south, kilns in Xingzhou and other northern sites could already fire porcelain with pure white body and glaze. White porcelain bowls, vases and other wares excavated from Sui tombs, with even glaze layers and fine bodies, show that white porcelain had broken free of its subordinate status to celadon and become an independent category.
2. 618–700Neiqiu · HebeiIn the early Tang, Xing kiln white porcelain was celebrated as 'like silver, like snow' and became a treasure sought after by the court and aristocratic clans. Lu Yu's Classic of Tea rated Xing porcelain's silvery whiteness above Yue celadon, reflecting the lofty status of white porcelain in tea culture. Kiln masters mastered flame control and glaze formulation techniques, producing ware with thin bodies and lustrous glaze.
3. 701–800Chang'an · ShaanxiIn the high Tang, Xing kiln white porcelain and Yue kiln celadon formed a 'southern celadon, northern white' pattern of two rivals standing side by side. White porcelain forms included bowls, plates, vases, pots and ewers, with decorative techniques such as impressed patterns, incised patterns and translucent porcelain. Large numbers of exquisite white porcelain wares were excavated from tombs of nobles in Chang'an and Luoyang, and Tang white porcelain shards have also been found along the Silk Road, indicating they were sold far overseas.