Hutian kilns

Hutian kilns (湖田窑) refer to the ceramic production complexes located in the Hutian area of Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province. Active primarily during the Song, Yuan, and Ming periods, the Hutian kilns were central to the development of Jingdezhen as the major center of high-fired white and blue-and-white ceramics. The kilns played a key role in the transition from Qingbai wares to underglaze-blue porcelains.

Historical Context

During the Northern and Southern Song periods, Hutian formed one of the principal production zones for Qingbai ware, recognized for its translucent body and pale blue-green glaze. In the Yuan period, workshops in the Hutian district participated in the early development and scaling of underglaze-blue decoration, using imported cobalt pigments in a high-fired white body. Production continued into the Ming period, with Hutian kilns integrated into Jingdezhen’s expanding ceramic industry.

The Hutian area corresponds to one of the earliest zones in which Jingdezhen’s identity as a porcelain center became established.

Kiln Sites and Archaeology

Archaeological investigation has documented:

Multi-phase kiln installations on sloping terrain
Stoneware and porcelain wasters, saggers, kiln furniture, and ash deposits
Distinct stratigraphic layers marking the shift from Qingbai to underglaze-blue production

Site Cluster	Location (Modern)	Notes
Hutian kiln group (湖田窑群)	Jingdezhen, Jiangxi	Stratified deposits reveal transition from Song Qingbai to Yuan and early Ming underglaze wares

Kiln construction follows the **southern dragon kiln** model, supporting long firing chambers and sustained high-temperature firings.

Materials and Technical Characteristics

Body: Fine, white, high-fired porcelain or proto-porcelain stoneware bodies.

Glazes:

Song: Thin, transparent or pale blue-green Qingbai glaze
Yuan / Ming: Clear or faintly tinted glazes applied over underglaze decoration

Decoration: Early wares emphasize glaze clarity and form; Yuan wares incorporate underglaze cobalt blue, applied by brush before glazing and firing.

Forms

Forms produced at Hutian include:

Bowls and dishes with flared or rounded profiles
Small covered boxes
Bottles and pouring vessels
Early blue-and-white bowls with painted interior cavetto

Standardized forms supported large-scale production and distribution.

Cultural and Historical Significance

Hutian kilns are significant for:

Establishing the foundational production environment for Jingdezhen porcelain
Enabling the transition from Qingbai aesthetics to underglaze-blue decoration
Contributing to both domestic and export ceramic networks in the Yuan and Ming periods

In museum classification, Hutian kilns provide key stratigraphic evidence for the chronology of Jingdezhen porcelain development.

Related Pages

References

Li Zhiyan et al., eds. Jingdezhen Archaeological Reports: Hutian Kiln Excavations. Chinese Academy of Arts.
Kerr, Rose. Chinese Ceramics. Victoria and Albert Museum.
Wood, Nigel. Chinese Glazes: Their Origins, Chemistry and Re-creation.