The Longquan Kiln was established by one of the two Zhang brothers: Zhang Sheng'er, the younger brother, opened the Kiln in the early Northern Song Dynasty. His old brother Zhang Shengyi established one of the Five Famous Kilns-- The Ge Kiln. When the Northern Song Dynasty was exterminated in 1127, the imperial family moved to Zhejiang Province and built up the Southern Song Dynasty. The location of the Longquan Kiln was close to the new capital Lin'an (today's Hangzhou), therefore the demand for its porcelains increase greatly for the need of the noble class. In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) the Longquan porcelains were exported to South Asia, Arab and East Affrica.

The Longquan Kiln used white clay for the cast, the glaze was usually green. The glaze layer was thick and strong, looked like jade. Under the magnifier tiny air bubbles can be visualized in the glaze.

 

Related Links: The Ge Kiln and the Di Kiln -- the legend of the brothers' kilns

Background Knowledge: History of China

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