Qiong Kiln Museum-

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Introduction of Qiong Kiln Museum

Introduction

“Qiong Kiln”, the generic term for Qiong Kiln relics and artifacts unearthed or handed-down, enjoys a comparable value as Sanxingdui Ruins and Jinsha Site. It is one of the key national cultural relic protection projects. Originated in Sui Dynasty, Qiong Kiln thrived in Tang Dynasty and went downhill during Song Dynasty. With over 800 years of pottery firing, Qiong Kiln not only represents the folk arts of celadon porcelain in Sichuan, but also is one of the most renowned folk kilns in China. Scattering in Qionglai, Qiong Kiln can be found in various ancient kiln sites, including Shifangtang in Shifangtang Village of Linqiong Town, Wayao Mountain in Gongyi village of Guyi Town, Jianshanzi in Xihe village of Linqiong Town, Baihe in Dayu Village, and Chaichong in Xihe village, etc. Qiong Kiln has been sorted as a series of the folk celadon in Qionglai from Northern and Southern Dynasties to Song Dynasty, winning the crown of “Qiong Kiln Series” and “Birthplace of Chinese Decorative Porcelain” in the academic field. Among diverse Qiong Kiln sites, the most representative one is the one in Shifangtang. Located in Shifangtang Village of Linqiong Town, Shifangtang Qiong Kiln Site forms a strip along South River, covering a wide area of 111,300 m2. The kiln site extends 530 meters from the east to the west, and 210 meters from the south to the north. There are 14 kiln houses and kiln sites being preserved now, which are in different sizes, heights and distances between each other. The biggest can reach a diameter of approximately 60 meters, while the smallest is just about 25 meters; the highest is around 11 meters, while the lowest is around 6 meters. Around kiln houses, there are many kiln tools and ceramic chips being covered. Shifangtang Qiong Kiln Site is known by the world for its largest number of preserved kiln houses, the largest covering area of relics, the longest history of pottery firing, and the top production and circulation of porcelain. On May 25, 2006, the State Council approved to add “Qiong Kiln Site” —combined with the Qiong Kiln sites of Shifangtang, Wayao Mountain and Dayu—as one of the Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.

Site Exhibition

Kilns of Qiong Kiln Museum

Kilns

Kiln 1 is located on the easternmost margin of the Shifangtang Site. Prior to official excavation in 2005, what remained of Kiln 1 had a height of 8 meters—making it one of the tallest kilns at the Shifangtang Site surviving to the present. The eastern and southern sides of the kiln are strewn with workshops built from between the early Tang Dynasty era to the late Southern Song Dynasty era. These contain a myriad of mud storage tanks, glaze vats, glaze extraction sites, wells, and other relics. The main clay collection area for china is located along the northern side. A well-preserved Song Dynasty dragon kiln has been excavated on the western side of Kiln 1. With a total length of 42 meters, it includes a workspace barrier in front of the kiln entrance and a stepped barrier protecting the chimney at the rear of the kiln. The kiln floor has a slope of 15 to 17 degrees, which stands out as the most scientific gradient among China’s ancient sloped dragon kilns. This dragon kiln has undergone at least seven major renovations. It was the most important large-scale kiln in operation at the time. Kiln 5 is located in the central area of the Shifangtang site. It is where the core production facilities of the ancient Qiong kiln of Shifangtang were located. In the 1930s, the Shifangtang Site suffered severe damage when a warlord ordered that it be looted. In 1984, archaeological excavation of the Shifangtang Site began here first, with Kiln 5. During the six-year archeological excavation, six dragon kilns and dome kilns were unearthed at Kiln 5. Also, porcelain manufacturing sites such as winch pits and glazed vats as well as tens of thousands of cultural relics were unearthed, among which were the "Linqiong" Cup, the Shuangliu Kettle, the Fuel-Efficient Lamp, and the "Gande Year 6" Inscription Mould. In 1986, more than 900 square meters of architectural relics from the Tang Dynasty were unearthed in this area, making this a major archaeological discovery for the whole country. In the same year, the Shifangtang Qiong Kiln Historic Site was listed as a Key Cultural Relics Site of Sichuan under Special Protection. In 1988, the Qiong Kiln Historic Site was included in the list of the third round of National Key Cultural Relics Sites under Special Protection.

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Relics of Qiong Kiln