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There is a porcelain that's white and pure like snow, and smooth and elegant like jade. Its body is as thin as a leaf of paper, and when you click on it, it sounds like a chime stone instrument. This is Dehua white porcelain.

The first Dehua porcelain kiln was launched during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Developed throughout Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties, the technique peaked around Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1636-1912). Especially so since Ming when porcelain masters represented by He Chaozong—"the porcelain sage"—invented the Eight Techniques: to squeeze, shape, carve, cut out, paste, join, polish and finish.

Quanzhou was the oriental start of the Maritime Silk Road, a city that Marco Polo called"the City of Light." The piece of Dehua porcelain (an off-white four-ear jar made in the Dehua kiln) he took home from Quanzhou is still on display in St. Mark's Basilica in Venice. Dehua porcelain was a major trade (evidenced by rescued objects from the"Tek Sing" shipwreck of Qing) for China on the Maritime Silk Road. For more than 300 years, European countries went all out to study and duplicate Dehua porcelain, which made a profound influence on the porcelain industry on the continent and in the entire world.

The French called Dehua porcelain Blanc de Chine ("White from China"). How blanc the porcelain is depends on the iron contents in the porcelain body. Based on different firing conditions, the finished object could look lard white, ivory, cream or flush pink. Dehua County is wrapped within the Daiyun Mountains that has highland soil of the highest quality. Thanks to the soil, the body and glaze of Dehua porcelain gear so perfectly and smoothly together that you would think you are holding a jade ware.

Dehua is one of the three major Chinese centers of ancient porcelain. Dynasties come and go; so did time and space. But for thousands of years, the fire in kilns never cease. Over 200 dragon-shaped kiln sites made it to modern times, three of which are still making pottery today. Porcelain is an art of fire. However carefully artists carve their patterns, it takes only one minor mistake in the firing process to make everything in vain. Made from earth and shaped by fire, Dehua porcelain is thousands of procedures in one object, which embodies the craftsmanship of the Chinese people who would not miss one single detail nor stop trying to be better.

Dehua porcelain is one of the best kinds in porcelain, as it puts"White from China" on the artistic map. During the 2017 BRICS Xiamen Summit, Dehua porcelain charmed the world again, this time also as an official Chinese gift for foreign countries. With legacy from history and inheritors of our day, Dehua porcelain of the new era will board the ship of the Belt and Road Initiative and depart again toward the world.

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: Traditional Chinese Costume
Traditional Chinese costume is just the starting point; one day, the profoundness of Chinese culture will be comprehensively revived.

: Chinese Cloisonné
It is as gentle as ancient jade, and as gallant as colorful silk. From paintings and sculptures to bronzes and porcelains, it is a combination of Chinese traditional arts and crafts. This is Chinese Cloisonné.

: An Axis of Time and Space
Suspended inside the Hall of Central Harmony at Beijing’s Forbidden City, a horizontally-inscribed board written by Qianlong Emperor says,“Devote to that of Neutrality and Impartiality”. This phrase originally came from The Book of Documents – Counsels of the Great Yu, and warns emperors that only by being neutral and impartial can one govern a nation.

: The Beauty of Jade Carving
People often describe something“as flawless as jade”. Flawless jade, however, is rare to be found. With their ingenious creativity and exceptional skills, Jade carvers shape materials into marvelous jade wares that convey good wishes.“Unpolished jade never shines”, as the old saying goes.

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Introduction

We plan to produce 100 episodes by choosing 100 elements from the Chinese culture, in order to present a broad and profound Chinese cultural image in a concrete way. China Bouquet is divided into humanistic arts, cultural heritages, national memories, and character stories by subject content.

Humanistic arts include visual arts, music, dance and many other forms of art. Chinese cultural spirits are explored from contemporary art works such as The Art of Chinese Characters, and Chinese Lacquer ware.

Cultural heritages focus on China's tangible cultural heritages and intangible cultural heritages. They carry the essence of national culture, such as The 24 Solar Terms, and Landscape.

National memories explore the spiritual values behind archeology, historical events and beliefs, such as The Light of Guidance, and Kunlun Faith.

Character stories introduce excellent Chinese people whose noble personality spirits reflect great national spirits, such as Blossom in Dunhuang.

Experts

Bo Lin
Li Mu