简体中文
About a century ago, the porcelain crafts from Jingdezhen in east China's Jiangxi Province were among the most sought products in Europe, with nobility paying vast sums to obtain the treasures.
Mass production has seen the industry dim in modern times, but, with the help of supporters like Rose Kerr, a retired museum administrator who has dedicated several decades to Chinese ceramics, the region is looking to revitalize its ancient tradition and reclaim global fame.
"As the world center of porcelain, Jingdezhen's name is known all over the globe," Kerr said. "I think the city's mission at the moment is to build on the successes and to make the ancient foundations better known, and do it in a way which respects history."
Jingdezhen has a history of porcelain-making that dates back more than 1,000 years. In the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), it was not only the home of imperial kilns, but also a center for porcelain exports. It is estimated that some 100 million pieces of china were sold to Europe from the 16th to the 18th century.
Overshadowed by the development of industrial ceramics of western countries, the glory of Jingdezhen started to fade in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). In recent decades, other Chinese cities have sprung up as major production centers of ceramics, such as Foshan and Chaozhou that mass produce pottery goods.
Finding a champion
Kerr's effort to help revitalize Jingdezhen's porcelain trade earned her honorary citizenship to the city on Monday.
The former keeper of the Far Eastern Department at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, Kerr became a lecturer, writer and independent scholar after retiring in 2003. As an expert in ancient ceramics, she has visited Jingdezhen eight times over the past three decades.
She said she is fascinated by the rich store of ceramic relics in Jingdezhen and has developed a strong emotional attachment to the city.
"It was a backward city, which was very dirty and full of factories and smoke, but still an exciting place to come to as the birthplace of Chinese porcelain," Kerr said, recalling her first visit to Jingdezhen in the 1980s.
Now "it has become a cleaner and more modern city. It makes contemporary porcelain but it does not neglect its past," she said.
Boosting culture, business
Things are looking up for Jingdezhen, as the city has been working hard to tap into its roots while seeking to expand its market.
Following an archeological survey last june in Jinkeng village, administered by Jingdezhen, the Dongjiao Center was established in the village as a private non-profit organization to promote porcelain research and protect porcelain relics discovered.
"We want to build Jinkeng into a cultural and academic center for the world, and to preserve the soul of the ceramics history in Jingdezhen" said Huang Qinghua, founder of the organization, "during the past year, we held 12 culture sessions which attracted scholars and ceramics enthusiasts from all over the world."
The center has set a good example and similar centers should be established to help the city attract more visitors from around the world, Kerr said while giving a lecture at the center on Monday afternoon.
To inspire innovation and cooperation, an industrial park featuring artist studios and workshops was opened last month, giving masters of hand-made porcelain and those who use special techniques a chance to produce and exhibit their works.
Wu Jiangzhong, a local ceramics master who specializes in large chinaware, has moved his kiln to Mingfang Park and expects it to boost the industry in the global market.
"Each studio has its unique technique passed down from the old generations and special customers. If we work together, we can inspire and foster our porcelain culture and create a brighter future," said Wu.
A ceramics exchange was launched in Jingdezhen last month in an effort to sharpen Jingdezhen's commercial edge by integrating online sales.
Dealing in artwork, raw materials and equities, the exchange is expected to post an aggregate turnover of 50 billion yuan (about 8 billion U.S. dollars) and create 100,000 jobs within five years.
Zhou Jun, who runs the exchange, predicted it would transform China's ceramics industry.
"We have established goals and we are confident we can achieve them," he said.
Lack of name brand
Industrial insiders agree a major challenge for Jingdezhen porcelain is a lack of international brands.
Statistics shows the city has some 5,000 ceramics workshops and more than 600 companies, but none of them is internationally recognized.
"You can't find a Chinese name on the list of the world's top luxury ceramic brands. Jingdezhen is only a place of origin shared by local pottery makers," said master porcelain artist Duan Zhenmin, who founded the Jiuduanshao Ceramics Factory.
"The absence of an international brand in Jingdezhen also brings an opportunity, and we are aiming to renew the heritage of royal quality," said Huang Bin of the Imperial Kiln Company.
To protect its production techniques and better guarantee quality, the Imperial Kiln has given a special ID to each of its products. The local government is also building a database in an attempt to track luxury porcelain for export.
Pottery maker Bian Xiaodong is confident about the city's ability to gain a foothold in the world's high-end ceramics market if local industry can act quickly to build brands.
"We still have the best production techniques," he said.
