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author’s 1910 self preface, the third of all the prefaces for Tao Ya, revealed a conception

of porcelain historical timeline that followed dynastic and imperial appellations:

‘[Emperor] Yu favors pottery which is elegant.’ Pottery
that is durable and delicate is called ci. ‘The sparkling
porcelain pours forth honeyed nectar’ is a line from a poem
from Pan Yue [247-300 AD]. Starting with the early years
of the Western Jin [265–316 AD], there are the beginnings
of qing [celadon] vessels. Haiyang wrote, ‘During the Han
dynasty, there were porcelain drinking vessels (qi).’ These
words were not carelessly spoken. Since the Sui [581-617
AD] and Tang dynasties [618-907 AD], the number of
porcelain producers increased. Both green and purple
porcelain were praised in songs and ballads. During the
times of the Chai emperor, Zhao [AD 954-960], elegant
wares were produced. This continued until the Yuan
dynasty, during which some decline (shuai স) occurred. A
tremendous revival occurred during the Yongle [1403-1424]
and Xuande [1426–1435] reigns. It was during that time
when multicolored painted decorations received emphasis.
Throughout the whole Ming period, the brilliance did not
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diminish.

To be sure, reign names were defining markers of porcelain before the 1900s. In fact,

reign names were the primary system of markings on porcelain produced in Jingdezhen

for Ming and Qing objects starting in the eighteenth century. The texts followed suit,

using the markings as general terms of reference. The 1774 monograph On Ceramics

(Tao Shuo) by Zhu Yan, the 1778 biji text entitled Research on the Scholars’ Studio

(Wenfang sikao) by eighteenth century Qing scholar and medical doctor Tang Bingjun,

and the imperial degree holder Liang Tongshu’s Research on Old Wares (Guyao qikao)

all referred to Ming dynasty wares according to emperor reign title such as Hongwu

(r.1368-1398) wares, Yongle (r. 1399-1402) wares, Xuande (r.1402-1424) wares,

Chenghua (r.1426-1435) wares, Zhengde (r.1506-1521) wares, Jiajing (r.1522-1566)

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wares, and so on (Figures 5, 6, 7, 8). The Record of Jingdezhen Ceramics continued the