Tang Dynasty Guangdong Trade Ceramics
Since ancient times, Chinese civilization maintained contact with the West. The overland Silk Route through Central Asia was firmly established during the Han period, serving as a vital conduit for the exchange of goods and culture. By the Tang period, an alternative maritime trade route had emerged, with Guangzhou becoming the primary gateway for maritime trade with Nanhai (Southeast Asia) and the West. Shipping vessels facilitated the transportation of larger volumes of commodities, marking the first peak of maritime trade in Chinese ceramics. The Arabic-style Guangzhou Huaisheng Mosque (广州怀圣清真寺) lighthouse played a crucial role in guiding ships into Guangzhou port during the Tang Dynasty. Located near Guangta (光塔) Road, the area known as Fanfang (番坊) was designated for foreign traders, primarily Persians and Arabs. The city's historical significance is reflected in many street names that indicate the types of trade conducted there.
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Over the past 50 years, archaeological excavations of kiln sites, ancient habitation and burial sites, and shipwrecks have provided valuable insights into the trade of ancient Chinese ceramics. With significant confidence, researchers have reconstructed a broad picture of where major ceramic products were produced and their export markets. During the Tang period, in addition to the renowned Yue, Changsha, and Xing/Ding wares, Guangdong green glaze wares played a crucial role in maritime trade. The Guangdong kilns, with their strategic proximity to Guangzhou port, became key suppliers of export ceramics. Historical and archaeological evidence clearly shows that the fortunes of many coastal kilns were closely tied to the rise and decline of nearby ports.
Guangdong green glaze wares can be broadly categorized into two distinctive production regions: the Pearl River Delta and Meixian/Chaozhou.
Archaeological surveys have identified numerous production sites in the Pearl River Delta, including Xinhui (新会), Heshan (鹤山), and Gaoming (高明). The green glaze from this region is recognized for its distinctive uneven, runny, and patchy texture, often resembling a snake-skin appearance.
The most well-known site excavated is the Guanchong kiln (官冲). This kiln site is named after Guanchong village, located in Gujing Town, Xinhui County in Guangdong Province. It was discovered In 1957 and in 1961 and 1997 respectively, the Provincial Archaeological Department conducted excavations and unearthed more than 4000 pieces of damaged artefacts consisting of various vessel forms. They are mainly green glaze bowls, plates. Jars, ewers, pots and basins. A significant number of the vessels have carved symbol or character near the opening or bottom.
Traces of remains of 5 kiln structures were discovered. The kiln is in the shape of a bun, consisting of a kiln door, firing chamber, kiln bed and 3 flues. Based on archaeological surveys, it is established that the kilns commenced operation in Mid Tang and continued till late Northern Song period .
Among the products, large green glaze jars were particularly prominent. Besides being traded as commodities, these jars were used for storing smaller ceramic vessels and water during transportation.
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| Examples from the Belitung shipwreck | |
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| Green glazed spout jar from the Belitung Shipwreck. | |
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| Typical uneven and runny glaze characteristic of Guangdong green glazed jar | |
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| Exhibited at the Guangdong Nanyue Palace Museum | |
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| Green-glazed Guangdong jars found in Indonesia | |
In addition to jars, the kilns also produced other utilitarian vessels such as bowls, dishes, basins, and ewers. Two green glazed bowls recovered from Indonesia's Palembang Musi River provide key examples. A distinctive feature of such bowls, particularly from Guanchong and neighboring kilns in Gaoming and Heshan, is the presence of patches left by clay lumps used as separators during the stacking process in kiln firing.
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| Green glazed bowl recovered from the Musi River in Palembang, Indonesia. A distinctive feature of such bowls from Guanchong and neighboring kilns, such as Gaoming and Heshan, is the presence of patches left by clay lumps used as separators during stacking in the firing process. | |
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A dish with different foot from Guanchong or nearby kiln |
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| Two Tang Guangdong ewers from a Vietnam wreck | |
In 2017, I had the opportunity to visit Guangdong to study kiln sites and museum collections. At the Xinhui Museum, I examined and handled Guanchong green glaze ware recovered from the kiln site.
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| Guanchong Green Glaze Ware from the Xinhui Museum | |
In 2018, excavations at the Guangzhou Panyu Zengbian kiln (番禺曾边窑) revealed green-glazed vessels similar to those from Guanchong kiln, though with a deeper green color and more grayish paste. It is likely that some Guangdong green-glazed wares from the Belitung wreck originated from this kiln. Additionally, an ancient habitation site near Zhongshan 6 Road in Guangzhou, west of the Fanfang area, yielded a significant number of green-glazed jars and bowls in the Tang stratigraphic layer.
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| Green-glazed wares from Guangzhou Panyu Zengbian kiln | |
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| Finds from an ancient habitation site in Guangzhou |
The best quality Guangdong green glaze wares were produced at kilns in Chaozhou Beijiao (潮州北郊), Chaozhou Beiguan (潮州北关), and Meixian Shuiche (梅县水车). Some Chaozhou vessels were recovered from the Tang Belitung wreck. Chaozhou green glaze ware is characterized by a thicker, glossier glaze with fine crackles, distinguishing it from Yue green glaze ware. Products from Meixian and Chaozhou kilns, situated near the Hanjiang River (韩江), were transported downstream to Chaozhou port.
During the recent Chinese economic boom, the Hanjiang River was dredged to supply sand for Chaozhou's construction industry. Along with the sand, a sizeable quantity of Meixian and Chaozhou green glaze wares were recovered. These were likely intended for transport to Chaozhou port but were discarded due to damage or lost in shipwrecks.
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| Examples from the Belitung wreck, characterized by three unglazed patches on the foot | |
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| Chaozhou green glazed wares exhibited in Chaozhou Shi Museum | |
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| Bowl from the Meixian Shuiche kiln | |
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| Meixian Shiche Green Glazed Examples of a Meixian Private Collector | |
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| Meixian Shuiche Kiln Green Glazed jar in Meixian Museum | |
The Tang Dynasty marked a golden age for Chinese trade ceramics, with Guangdong kilns playing a crucial role in the supply chain. The combination of a strategic location, skilled craftsmanship, and robust maritime networks facilitated the widespread distribution of Guangdong green glaze wares across Asia.
Ongoing archaeological research continues to shed light on the complex trade dynamics of the era, offering deeper insights into the cultural and economic exchanges between China and the broader world. As further discoveries are made, our understanding of Tang trade ceramics will continue to evolve, reinforcing their significance in global history.
References:
1. Ceramic Finds from Tang and Song Kilns in Guangdong
2. Guangdong Ceramics from Butuan and other Philippine sites
Written by: NK Koh (17 Feb 2025)