Porcelain of jingdezhen
Jing de zhen, formerly spelt Ching Teh Chen and known as the "Ceramics Metropolis" of China, is a synonym for Chinese porcelain.
Variably called Xin ping or Chang nan zhen in history, it is situated in the northeastern part of Jiangxi Province in a small basin rich in fine kaolin, hemmed in by mountains which keep it supplied with firewood from their conifers. People there began to produce ceramics as early as 1,800 years ago in the Eastern Han Dynasty. In the Jingde Period (10041007), Emperor Zhen zong of Song Dynasty decreed that Chang nan zhen should produce the porcelain used by the imperial court, with each inscribed at the bottom "Made in the Reign of Jingde". From then on peole began to call all chinaware bearing such in scriptions "porcelain of Jing de zhen" .
The ceramic industry experienced further development at Jing de zhen during the Ming and Qing dynasties or from the 14th to the 19th century, when skills became perfected and the general quality more refined; government kilns were set up to cater exclusively to the need of the imperial house.
The leading centre of the porcelain industry, Jing de zhen has been put under state protection also as an important historical city. With 133 ancient buildings and cultural sites, it is a tourist town attracting large numbers of visitors from home and abroad.
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