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How did Ming dynasty wucai pottery use multiple overglaze colors?

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Neolithic Banshan pottery: funerary urn — Chinese pottery Painted Pottery funerary urn, Neolithic Banshan phase, c. 3000 bce, from Yangshao, Henan province, China; in the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, Stockholm. Height 13.2 inches (33.5 cm).

Ming dynasty wucai (meaning "five-colour") pottery achieved its vibrant appearance by utilizing a diverse palette of overglaze enamels applied over a dead-white background.1

Specifically, the technique involved combining underglaze blue with a variety of overglaze colours, including green, yellow, aubergine purple, and iron red. This method allowed for a bold, free, and highly contrasted aesthetic that became particularly prominent during the Jiajing (1521–1567) and Wanli (1572–1620) periods. While earlier Ming decoration often relied on more delicate or refined applications, the wucai style is noted for its strong, brilliant colours and is considered a precursor to the later Qing dynasty famille verte palette. These wucai wares represent a significant evolution in Chinese ceramic decoration, moving away from monochrome or simple blue-and-white designs toward a more complex, multi-coloured decorative tradition.21