Cultural Selection: The Role of Silk Roads Exchange in Changing trends in Chinese Porcelain

Worldwide trade in Chinese ceramics began around the 8^th century CE, and occurred predominantly via the Maritime Silk Roads. Archaeological evidence from sites across South East Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, Arabian Peninsula and Iranian Plateau suggests large quantities of Chinese porcelain was imported to these regions, where it became a much sought after status symbol. Most of this porcelain was transported by sea, as it was too heavy and fragile to be carried overland. Indeed porcelain most likely formed the ballast (the heavy material placed in the hull of a ship to ensure its stability) for the main cargo of silks and other luxuries.

Amongst some of the most popular exported pottery was ‘celadon’ a light-green monochrome porcelain, which was originally intended as an imitation of jade. The earliest Chinese celadon was exported from Yuezhou (South of China) in the latter half of the 10^th century CE (the five dynasties period), however later production moved to Longquan (east of China). Celadon was the main porcelain product exported from China for over 300 years before it was replaced in popularity with a different porcelain ware known as ‘blue-and-white’.

Blue and white porcelain replaced celadon sometime in the 13^th century CE as the most popular porcelain exported from China. This changing trend in the export of Chinese porcelain was driven in part by the influence of Arab merchants, who preferred the more decorative blue-and-white ware. In the exchange of Chinese porcelain around the world, Arab merchants played a dual role in that they were the main exporters of Persian cobalt (which gives the porcelain its characteristic blue colour) to China, and then were the transporters and consumers of the product that the cobalt produced. The blue-and-white was prized among Arab merchants for its novelty and attractiveness, and within a very short space of time, it began to be produced in vast quantities at Jingdezhen in Eastern China, a city known for its kaolinite clay mineral, which produces a very high quality porcelain.

Whilst the Chinese placed greater value on monochrome ceramics and believed in the supernatural power of the celadon to bring favour and good luck, Arab merchants preferred the brighter and more vividly ornamental blue-and-white porcelain wares. Further Arabic influences were evident in the deviation from traditionally Chinese features of the manufactured products. For example, some porcelain items resembled forms of metallic vessels, lantern bases and other items found in the Arabian Peninsula. While the celadon was highly valued by the Chinese for its abstract quality, the blue-and-white had an aesthetic appeal in the Arabian Peninsula and to a wider European market because of its vivid colour and ornamental style.

The changing trends in the export of Chinese porcelain demonstrates the wider reaching implication of Silk Roads cultural exchanges. The rapid development over a comparatively short period of blue-and-white production would not have been possible without both the import of Persian cobalt and the entrepreneurial demand from Arab merchants, which drove the speed of the change. A development, which had far reaching implication for the form and production of Chinese porcelain transported via the Maritime Silk Roads.

See Also:

Traditional Medieval Indian Sea-Charts

Intercultural Elements of the Silk Roads in Korean Buddhist Art

Indian and European Influences on Persian Miniatures