Qingbai Export Ware
Qingbai export ware refers to Qingbai-glazed ceramics produced primarily at Jingdezhen and related kiln sites for overseas distribution during the Southern Song and Yuan periods (12th–14th century). These wares circulated widely through maritime trade networks linking southern China to Southeast Asia, the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean, and, in some instances, East Africa. Their archaeological presence in port settlements and shipwreck cargoes provides key evidence for premodern Chinese export systems.
Historical Context
By the 12th century, Jingdezhen had developed into a major production center for thin-bodied, translucent Qingbai ware. As maritime trade expanded through ports such as Quanzhou and Fuzhou, Qingbai became one of the principal ceramic types shipped abroad. The export of Qingbai intensified during the Yuan dynasty, when trade networks became more systematically organized under maritime taxation and shipping licensure.
Qingbai export circulation must be understood as part of a large-scale, state-tolerated commercial economy, not as isolated or incidental trade.
Trade Routes and Distribution
Qingbai export ware was distributed along major maritime routes:
- South China Sea networks — present-day Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore
- Bay of Bengal — Sri Lanka, Tamil coastal cities, and Bengal riverine trade nodes
- Indian Ocean routes — the Arabian Peninsula and Persian Gulf regions
- East African coast — including Swahili coastal trade centers
These networks were interconnected through seasonal monsoon navigation and structured port taxation systems.
Shipwreck and Cargo Archaeology
Qingbai export ware has been documented in multiple shipwrecks, where the arrangement of cargo provides direct evidence of packing, trade volume, and commercial standardization.
Significant shipwreck contexts include:
- Sinan shipwreck (Korea, 1323) — Qingbai bowls and boxes packed in nested stacks
- Java Sea wrecks — mixed cargoes containing Qingbai alongside Thai and Vietnamese ceramics
- Intan and Cirebon wrecks (Indonesia) — show Qingbai participation in broader Indian Ocean trade convergence
Cargo assemblages demonstrate:
- Nested stacking of bowls for spatial efficiency
- Grouping of lidded boxes in bundled sets
- Standardized vessel proportions suited to bulk transport
Forms and Surface Characteristics
Export-oriented Qingbai forms include:
- Bowls with thin walls and rounded cavettos
- Small covered boxes for cosmetic, incense, or medicinal materials
- Dishes with slightly thickened rims to prevent chipping during transit
- Small vases and ewers designated for household altar or table use
Glaze characteristics:
- Pale blue-green tone
- Thin, even application
- Subtle pooling around relief or molded motifs when present
Kiln Sites and Production Organization
Primary production occurred at:
- Jingdezhen (Hutian kiln complex) — main export center
- Supplementary kilns in Jiangxi and Fujian supplying regional shipping networks
Kiln-waster piles and unfinished vessels recovered at Jingdezhen indicate **scale-oriented production**, reflected in:
- Repeatable vessel forms
- Template-based shaping
- Batch-fired glaze consistency
This standardization was compatible with maritime volume distribution.
Distribution and Reception in Overseas Contexts
Archaeological deposits at port and settlement sites — e.g., Banten (Indonesia), Ayutthaya (Thailand), Galle (Sri Lanka), Manda (Kenya) — show that Qingbai was incorporated into:
- Domestic consumption
- Local ritual practice
- Regional elite gifting networks
Its reception was integrative, not imitative or subordinated.
See Also
References
- Kerr, Rose. Song Dynasty Ceramics. Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
- Krahl, Regina. Chinese Ceramics from the Meiyintang Collection. Vol. II. Hong Kong.
- Li Zhiyan (李知宴), ed. Zhongguo Tao ci Quan shu (中国陶瓷全书). Beijing: Shanghai Kexue Jishu Chubanshe.
- Guy, John. Oriental Trade Ceramics in Southeast Asia: Ninth to Sixteenth Centuries. Oxford University Press.
- Miksic, John. Earthenware and Stoneware from the Java Sea Wreck. National University of Singapore Press.
