Dragon Kiln displays its legacy with beautifully made ceramics
(MENAFN) In Yixing, a city renowned as China’s pottery hub located in Jiangsu province, an age-old tradition endures through the continuous operation of the Qianshu Dragon Kiln, a wood-fired kiln that has stood for over six centuries. Despite the availability of modern kiln technologies, artisans remain dedicated to this time-honored method.
For more than 40 hours straight, craftsmen carefully stoke the kiln with firewood, raising the internal temperature beyond 1,000 degrees Celsius. The climax of this ancient process arrives when the kiln is finally opened, unveiling a trove of ceramic creations likened to “blind boxes,” an eagerly awaited occasion by locals.
Situated amid the traditional village dwellings of Dingshu Township, the Qianshu Dragon Kiln’s distinctive long roof, covered in dark tiles, winds its way up a hillside, sheltering an earthen chamber crafted from compacted yellow soil.
Originating during the Ming Dynasty period (1368-1644), this kiln is uniquely notable as the sole kiln in Jiangsu province still operating with traditional wood-burning techniques. Spanning 43.4 meters in length and aligned along a north-south axis, the kiln’s structure features three sections—head, body, and tail—and can accommodate around 8,000 ceramic items per firing cycle.
On the morning of the Dragon Boat Festival, precisely at 9:58 a.m., the kiln was ceremoniously opened, accompanied by the rhythmic beats of drums and vibrant dragon dance performances. Over a thousand onlookers gathered as a kiln master carefully examined each ceramic container, expertly assessing the quality of the items emerging from within the kiln’s fiery interior.
The firing process is critical to producing high-quality ceramics. In southern China, the dragon kiln—named after its serpentine shape that follows the contour of a hillside—is among the most prevalent kiln designs. With a history spanning thousands of years, these distinctive kilns have been fundamental to China’s rich ceramic heritage.
This traditional dragon kiln played a pivotal role in establishing Yixing’s fame as the “pottery capital” of the nation. Recognized for its cultural and historical importance, the Qianshu Dragon Kiln was designated a protected national heritage site in 2006.
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