Azure Blanc · The Story of Porcelain
Longquan Celadon:
The Green of a Thousand Peaks
Mountain. Water. And Fire. 1700 years. Just to capture the mountains. From jade-like Di ware to crackled Ge ware. Every shade, carved from nature.
It is the oldest, largest, and most influential celadon tradition in China. It began in the Three Kingdoms period, flourished in the Northern Song, and reached its peak in the Southern Song and Yuan dynasties. For over 1700 years, the kilns have never stopped burning.
In the Song and Yuan dynasties, Longquan celadon sailed the Maritime Silk Road to Asia, Africa and Europe. It made up more than 70% of all Chinese porcelain exports at the time. It was the hard currency of the ancient sea routes. Today, it is known as one of China’s three great porcelains, alongside Jingdezhen blue and white and Dehua blanc de chine.
Section I
Two Distinct Traditions
What makes Longquan truly unique is that it has two distinct, equally beautiful traditions. Legend says they were created by two brothers, Zhang Shengyi and Zhang Shenger, in the Song Dynasty.
The Heritage
Ge Ware & Di Ware
Ge ware (Elder Brother Kiln): Famous for its natural crackle pattern. The cracks form by accident during firing, when the glaze and the clay shrink at different rates. No two pieces are ever the same. It is the ultimate expression of beauty in imperfection.
Di ware (Younger Brother Kiln): Famous for its jade-like glaze. The most prized colors are fenqing (pale blue-green) and meiziqing (plum green). Fenqing is as soft as blue jade. Meiziqing is as deep as emerald. They represent the highest achievement of celadon glaze in history.
Section II
What Makes It Special
The old saying "celadon surpasses jade" is not an exaggeration.
The Glaze
Layers of Green.
Longquan celadon is glazed multiple times, so the glaze is often thicker than the clay itself. Fired at around 1300 degrees Celsius in a reducing flame, it develops that warm, jade-like texture that no other porcelain can match. Hold it up to the light, and you can see layers and layers of green. It is calm to look at. It is smooth to touch.
The Craft
Quiet Craftsmanship.
Making Longquan celadon is incredibly difficult. There is a saying among the potters: "One kiln lives, one kiln dies." A perfect piece goes through 13 major steps and more than 70 small steps. One degree off in temperature, and the glaze is ruined. When there is decoration, it is always subtle: carved lines, scratched patterns, small reliefs. Nothing loud. Nothing overdone. Just quiet craftsmanship.
Section III
A World Heritage
In 2009, the traditional firing technique of Longquan celadon was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. It is the first, and still the only, ceramic tradition in the world to receive this honor.
Today, Longquan celadon fits perfectly in modern homes, zen spaces and wabi-sabi interiors. It does not shout. It does not demand attention. But it brings a sense of calm and peace to any room. With just one touch of green, it turns an ordinary space into something timeless.
Watch
The Craft of Longquan
The Journal
From The Journal
Stories of craft, culture, and the quiet beauty of things made by hand.
Read More StoriesIt does not shout. It does not demand attention. But it brings a sense of calm and peace to any room. With just one touch of green, it turns an ordinary space into something timeless.