The Circulation of Elite Longquan Celadon Ceramics from China to Japan

Chinese Longquan ( ) celadon, a type of green-glazed ceramic, is one of the most famous branded and trade products, particularly during the 13th and 14th centuries. Its archaeological and historical materials possess multiple attributes with plentiful cultural information. The objective of the present book is to vivify these materials and provide readers and researchers a broader perspective and additional methodologies to review and gain a new and more profound understanding of Longquan celadon. The first part of this book focuses on elite Longquan celadon in Chinas Southern Song (SS) (11271278) and Yuan (12711368) periods and sets out to answer unresolved questions. How did Longquan potters elevate their products artistic quality from regional and popular acclaim to elite art, and create their products brand and successful marketing? What was the ceramics technological particularity that brought about its achievement as the commercial version of SS Guan (Imperial) ware? Why did its style change, and why did the production center shift after the end of the Southern Song period? In addressing these issues, the author explores the contemporary social atmosphere and local ecological environment. The second part focuses on elite Longquan celadon products as imports in medieval Japan. Beginning with the late Kamakura period (11921333) via the Muromachi shogunate (13921573) to the Edo (16031868) periods an extensive time span elite Longquan celadon ware circulated widely within elite class communities and Zen temples. These products played a crucial role in shaping medieval Japanese culture, bringing to the fore issues such as the Japanese manner of adopting Chinese Song and Yuan culture, and more generally cross-cultural transmission from China to Japan.