Hong Kong Palace Museum | Brilliance: Ming Dynasty Ceramic Treasures from the Palace Museum, 1368–1644

Porcelains with an underglaze copper-red decoration were first produced in the Yuan dynasty and then developed during the Hongwu period of the early Ming dynasty. The pine, bamboo, and prunus motif, known as the “Three Friends of Winter”, was admired by the literati because it symbolizes uprightness and purity. The transition from Yuan to Ming is shown by the sparser layout of the decorations and the brighter tonality of the copper-red on this Ming vase when compared with Yuan wares.

A legendary creature with auspicious powers, the dragon has been worshiped by the Chinese for thousands of years. During the Ming dynasty, imperial kilns in Jingdezhen produced large quantities of porcelains decorated with dragons exclusively for the imperial family. It was the heyday of dragon-patterned ceramics. Various types of dragons, supplemented by clouds, waves, floral scrolls, or flaming pearls, can be seen on imperial porcelains produced then. As the imperial emblem, dragons reflected the nobility and majesty of the imperial family.

The imported cobalt pigment used by the imperial kilns in Jingdezhen was rich in iron, which created dark blue flecks when the wares were fired. The vase shows the close communications between the Ming government and the Western Asia.

In the early Ming dynasty, not just Jingdezhen but Longquan in Zhejiang province had official kilns governed by the court. Imperial ceramics produced in Longquan were made according to instructions from the court and have forms and designs remarkably similar to those of Jingdezhen wares. In addition to being supplied to the court in the early Ming dynasty, celadons made in Longquan kilns were carried on diplomatic missions to be used as the chief ceramic gifts. They were very popular in neighbouring countries and were also exported as far away as today’s Africa.

Doucai is a technique that has already reached maturity during the Chenghua period. This cup with garden scenes in autumn is one of the finest pieces of doucai, It has a thin and light body, and the colour is vibrant. On the exterior are paintings of rocks, flowers, and colourful dancing butterflies, vividly capturing the scene of an autumn courtyard. This type of cup is usually called sanqiubei. While the name literally translates as “three autumn cup”, meaning the three months of autumn, which is the typical length of the season.

Take a closer look at the purple butterflies on the cup. The glaze used on their wings is rich in colour and has a dry, matte surface. This shade of purple is called chazi, unique to doucai of the Chenghua period.

The production of wucai (“five-colour”) porcelains reached a high point during the Wanli period. Porcelains were lavishly and variously decorated with elaborate and richly coloured designs.