Chapter 1533: Ming Dynasty looks at Chenghua, Qing Dynasty looks at Yongzheng
Yellow has not been the color used by emperors since ancient times.
For example, in the Qin Dynasty, it was still black.
It was during the Tang Dynasty that yellow was truly reputable.
During the Tang Dynasty, the imperial court issued an edict for the first time prohibiting civilians from wearing yellow clothes.
The edict issued at that time said: "In the early days of Emperor Wude of the Tang Dynasty, he used the Sui Dynasty system. The emperor often used yellow robes, so he banned the soldiers and common people from wearing them. And the wearing of yellow robes began from then on."
This means that during the Sui Dynasty, the emperor wore yellow robes, so Emperor Gaozu of the Tang Dynasty also followed the Sui system.
At that time, it was stipulated that yellow clothes could not be worn by anyone except the emperor.
Therefore, yellow clothes were banned for the common people, which started in the Wude Year of the Tang Dynasty.
Although yellow became the exclusive color of imperial clothing in the Tang Dynasty, this regulation only limited to clothing at that time, and there was no explicit restriction on the color of ceramics.
Therefore, there are many Tang Sancai with yellow color, and although yellow glazed porcelain is rare, it has not lost its popularity.
By the Ming Dynasty, especially the Chenghua period, porcelain ushered in a good season when hundreds of flowers bloomed.
There are also many classic works from this period, such as a yellow ground blue and white plate with pomegranate and fruit patterns, which dates from the Chenghua period of the Ming Dynasty and is now hidden in the National Museum.
The Chenghua Dynasty of the Ming Dynasty was famous for its porcelain in later generations. Whether it was colorful chicken cups, blue and white porcelain, or sweet white porcelain, they all deeply influenced the porcelain aesthetics of later generations.
Although the yellow-glazed porcelain of this period is not as good as that of the Hongzhi period, as long as it is Chenghua porcelain, it will definitely have something special.
Especially Chenghua's yellow ground blue and white glaze color, which few people know about.
Ming Chenghua yellow ground blue and white, not to mention other things, only has a yellow glaze, and can also be combined with blue and white, so naturally it is not simple.
The dignified and gorgeous blue and white on this kind of porcelain contrasts with the elegant yellow glaze, creating a unique artistic style.
Yellow ground blue and white is one of the varieties of blue and white porcelain. Its production process is to hang yellow glaze on the white glaze after the blue and white are fired.
It is then baked at a low temperature again.
Yellow ground blue and white porcelain was first fired during the Xuande period of the Ming Dynasty, and was fired in large quantities during the Chenghua, Hongzhi and Zhengde periods.
Their shapes and decorations are basically the same. If the utensils are similar, it is difficult to distinguish their dynasties by covering up their inscriptions.
Chenghua plate has a multi-sided sand base, Hongzhi, Zhengde has a glaze base, and Xuande has both.
The painted eucalyptus is auspicious, implying the prosperity and continuity of descendants.
The pattern arrangement is unique and has a great decorative effect. The coordinated glaze colors are pleasing to the eye and have a strong artistic appeal.
Let’s take this yellow-ground blue-and-white plate with folded branches, flowers and fruits. It is 5.2 centimeters high, 30 centimeters in diameter, and 20.4 centimeters in full diameter.
This plate has a curved lip, curved walls, wide bottom, and rounded feet.
The inside and outside of the vessel are painted with yellow glaze and blue and white patterns on the ground, while the inside is decorated with pomegranate patterns of broken branches.
The inner wall is decorated with four kinds of auspicious fruit patterns: peach, persimmon, cherry and lychee.
The outer wall has a lotus pattern with folded branches, and the six-character regular script inscription "Ming Dynasty Chenghua Year System" is written horizontally in blue and white along the outer mouth.
This is the most classic blue and white plate with yellow ground. This kind of plate is covered with yellow glaze on the white glaze outside the pattern, making the thick blue and white and the shiny yellow glaze form a sharp contrast.
Yellow glaze, blue and white are combined with each other and set off each other. How can it be so beautiful?
The key point here is that the entire development history of yellow glaze has several peaks. The first one must be Tang Sancai, and the second one is Hongzhi, Chenghua and Xuande in Ming Dynasty.
The last one is definitely the Qing Dynasty.
Yellow was used to the extreme in the Qing Dynasty.
In the words of the late Emperor Puyi: "Whenever I think back to my childhood, a layer of yellow appears in my mind: the glazed tile roof is yellow, the sedan chair is yellow, the chair cushions are yellow...".
Yes, everything is yellow, even the tableware used in the palace is yellow.
According to the "History of the Palace and Ceremonies of the State and Dynasties", the Qing palace had detailed regulations on the use of colored glazed porcelain at different levels.
The emperor, empress dowager, and empress used yellow glaze vessels on the inside and outside.
Imperial concubines use yellow glaze and white lining vessels; imperial concubines and imperial concubines use yellow ground and green dragon vessels;
The concubine uses the blue and yellow dragon weapon...
It can be seen from this that when it comes to porcelain used by the emperor, yellow must be used both inside and outside.
The yellow-glazed porcelain of the Qing Dynasty was more colorful than that of the Ming Dynasty. It was not only dignified in shape, but also had a warm and delicate glaze color, giving people a more luxurious feel.
In addition to firing plain wares, there are also a variety of superb techniques used in yellow glaze porcelain, such as engraving, painting, etc.
During the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, both "beige glaze" and "egg yolk glaze" were very famous.
Among them, "beige glaze" has a color like beige, while "egg yolk glaze" has a color like egg yolk. Not only is the glaze layer thicker, but it is also highly transparent.
During the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty, the firing technology of "egg yolk glaze" continued, and the glaze had a powdery texture, which looked very eye-catching.
In addition, "lemon yellow glaze (dan yellow glaze)" is also a famous porcelain treasure during the Yongzheng period.
For example, a lemon-yellow glazed lotus petal plate handed down from the Yongzheng period is graceful and elegant in shape, novel and unique.
The most important thing is that the glaze color is natural and pure, showing the extremely strict production process of Yongzheng Dynasty.
It is often said that imperial kiln porcelain "sees Chenghua in the Ming Dynasty, and Yongzheng in the Qing Dynasty". So how good is Yongzheng's porcelain?
Ming Dynasty yellow-glazed porcelain was produced during the Xuande period of the Ming Dynasty.
By the Chenghua and Hongzhi periods of the Ming Dynasty, it had reached its highest level.
This yellow glaze uses lead as the solvent and iron as the colorant, and is fired at low temperature.
Because the yellow color is delicate and tender, it is also called "delicate yellow".
During the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, the Ministry of Internal Affairs used antimony yellow introduced from the West as enamel color.
The color of the yellow glaze during the Yongzheng period was lighter and more elegant than the traditional poured yellow glaze, so it was called "lemon yellow glaze".
Yellow neutralizes beauty. Yellow inherits Tiande and is the most pure and beautiful, so it is overflowing with respect for color.
Because "yellow" and "emperor" are homophonic, it has become a symbol of power and dignity.
This Yongzheng lemon yellow glaze lotus petal pattern dish has an elegant and dignified shape, a firm and light texture, and a white glaze inside, which makes it moist and white.
It is coated with lemon yellow glaze, which is bright and even, and contrasts with the warm glaze, making it even more delicate and charming.
This disc has a regular shape, diameter, white texture, delicate texture, and fine trimming.
The bottom foot is slightly rounded and has the typical "loach back" characteristics.
At the same time, the inner and outer walls of the base are basically on the same plane.
Footprint: blue and white double circle "Yongzheng Year of the Qing Dynasty" six characters and two lines in regular script.
During the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty, the six-character double-line double-circle style appeared slightly later.
There are two types of strokes in Yongzheng official kiln regular script: one is horizontally thin and vertically thick like Song style; one is horizontally and vertically thick and consistent, and this plate definitely belongs to the latter style.
If you look closely at this paragraph, you will find that the strokes are horizontal and vertical, and the character "Qing" has two diagonal dots on the right and then lifts up;
The first point of the character "Yong" is short vertical and tilted to the left;
The word "clothes" is omitted; the word "zhi" is connected with the short stroke.
The blue and white color of the style is pure, the structure is stable, the font is crisp and the writing is strong.
The fonts throughout the book are elegant and neat, and the charm and elegance are present.
This kind of porcelain is definitely worthy of the words "Ming Dynasty looks at Chenghua, Qing Dynasty looks at Yongzheng"!