Page 48 - Chinese and Asian Ceramics from an Indonesian Collection

Chapter 4. Glazed Ceramics in the Musi River

Table 1. Chronology of Chinese Dynasties from Han TANG DYNASTY AND FIVE DYNASTIES
to Qing. Dominant wares exported by the Chinese during the
Tang Dynasty were Yue, Changsha and Xing/Ding
DYNASTY PERIOD wares. Guangdong green wares (celadon) also formed
Han Dynasty 206 BC–220 AD an important component of the ceramic cargo mix.
Six Dynasties 221–588 This was in part because of their proximity to the port of
Three Kingdoms 221–265 Guangzhou, which was a major entrepôt for the export
Western Jin 265–316 of ceramics at that time. Tang Dynasty wares found in the
Eastern Jin 317–420 Musi are discussed below under these broad types of ware.
Southern Dynasties 420–587 Yue wares
Northern Dynasties 386–581 The most primitive Yue wares or their precursors are
Sui Dynasty 589–617 thought to date from the 3rd century BC. The earliest
Tang Dynasty 618–906 kilns producing ‘proper’ Yue ware were those at the site of
Five Dynasties 907–959 Jiyuan near Shaoxing in northern Zhejiang. According to
Liao Dynasty 907–1126 Gompertz (1980) these early kilns operated from the Han
Song Dynasty 960–1279 until the Six Dynasties period. They were characterized
by their grey-green glaze, hard, semi porcellaneous body
Northern Song 960–1126 with some iron content. They were generally large, strong
Southern Song 1127–1279 and with flat bases and modelled after Han bronzes.
Jin Dynasty 1115–1234 Krahl (2010) attributed decline in the production of Yue
Yuan Dynasty 1280–1368 ware during the Six Dynasties and early-Tang period to
Ming Dynasty 1369–1644 competition from quality ceramics from northern China,
Hongwu 1369–1398 such that examples from the early-Tang Dynasty were rare.
Jianwen 1399–1402 After cessation of the Jiyuan kilns, production of Yue ware
expanded to various parts of Zhejiang Province, especially
Yongle 1403–1424 around the shores of Lake Shanglin, which continued
Hongxi 1425 to produce such ware until the Northern Song Dynasty
Xuande 1426–1435 in the 11th century, when they declined in importance.
Zhengdong 1436–1449 By the 8th century, Yue wares were popular again within
Jingtai 1450–1456 China and as international export ware (Krahl 2010). The
Tianshun 1457–1464 9th century was the first peak of Yue ware production,
in terms of both quality and quantity, as it had become
Chenghua 1465–1487 the preferred ceramic for drinking tea, especially ewers
Hongzhi 1488–1505 and bowls. However, although widely distributed during
Zhengde 1506–1521 the later Tang Dynasty, Yue ware was generally a luxury
Jiajing 1522–1566 commodity and made in relatively small quantities. The
Longqing 1567–1572 well documented Yue wares found in the Belitung wreck
Wanli 1573–1619 during the late-Tang Dynasty (c. 830) were believed to be
Taichang 1620 from kilns close to Ningbo, southeast of Cixi, especially
from around the shores of Lake Shanglin (Krahl 2010).
Tianqi 1621–1627 They provide an important source for us to identify
Chongzhen 1628–1644 late-Tang period Yue Ware found in the Musi, in part
Qing Dynasty 1645–1911 because this boat was almost certainly trading with the
Shunzhi 1645–1661 Palembang entrepôt.
Kangxi 1662–1722 During the Five Dynasties period in the 10th century,
Yongzhen 1723–1735 Yue ware became the official ware of the kings of Wu-Yue,
Qianlong 1736–1795 who ruled the Zhejiang region at that time. These rulers
greatly encouraged production of fine quality Yue ware.
Jiaqing 1796–1820 It was produced in great quantities and exported widely
Daoguang 1821–1850 as tribute to strong states and for commercial trade.
Xianfeng 1851–1861 The majority of Yue ware found in South East Asia dates
Tongzhi 1862–1874 from the period of the Five Dynasties and early-Northern
Guangxu 1875–1908 Song Period (Koh 2017a). The later Cirebon Wreck (c.
Xuantong 1909–1911 968) found off Java, was laden with some 250,000 artefacts,
Republic of China 1912–1948 the majority of which were of mediocre to high-quality
Yue ware of the Five Dynasties or early-Northern Song
Dynasty. Similarly, documentation of this cargo, which
was thought to have been loaded on an Indonesian boat

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