The Millennium of Imperial Ceramics

Porcelain has become the greatest symbol of Chinese culture. It is one of the outstanding inventions that has made an invaluable contribution to world civilization. Imperial ceramics, that is, the ceramics of the imperial workshops, are an important carrier of palace culture. It was a product of the monarchical era, and the state power served as the foundation on which the culture of porcelain flourished. Therefore, to gain a deep understanding of China's historical culture, especially its core - palace culture - it is necessary to know the culture of imperial ceramics. "The Millennium of Imperial Ceramics" is not a history course of ceramics. This work investigates the historical and cultural connections of the imperial palace with the ceramics of the imperial workshops. The focus is on those ceramics of which the collections of the Beijing Palace Museum (Gugong) are most abundant; those for which the most precise archival documents and the greatest number of literary monuments have been preserved; those that have had the strongest impact on society. Here, the history of porcelain, the personalities connected with it, events, regulations, technologies, objects, culture, art, and its influence on life are examined. The author reveals the traditional culture of China and conveys the spirit of its outstanding masters.