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How did the Kangxi emperor help revive imperial porcelain at Jingdezhen?
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Chinese art
A discussion of Chinese art, from the documentary China: West Meets East at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The imperial kilns at Jingdezhen suffered significant destruction during the chaotic mid-17th century. The Kangxi emperor was instrumental in their revival, overseeing the full reestablishment of the kilns by 1682.1
To restore the industry, the emperor appointed Cang Yingxuan as the director of the imperial kilns. Under Cang’s expert leadership, the production of imperial porcelain achieved a level of excellence that had not been seen for over a century. This revival included:12
- Technical Mastery: Potters recaptured the perfection of form and glaze found in classic Song dynasty wares, while also perfecting new techniques such as the rich copper-red langyao (oxblood) glaze.1
- Innovation: The period saw the introduction of new colors and glaze effects, including "peach bloom," eel-skin yellow, and snakeskin green.1
- Artistic Precision: Kangxi-era blue-and-white porcelain became noted for its vivid cobalt washes and new precision in drawing.1
- Expansion of Styles: The era fostered the development of famille verte and famille rose palettes, as well as expert imitations of earlier imperial styles and the introduction of European-influenced pigments.1