Analysis on the Spectral Characteristics and Origin of “Binary” Formula of Jingdezhen Traditional Ceramic Body
MO Yun-jie1, 2, CAO Chun-e1*, HAN Guang-da1, ZHENG Nai-zhang1
1. School of Archaeology and Museology, Jingdezhen Ceramic University, Jingdezhen 333403，China
2. National Engineering Research Center for Domestic & Building Ceramics, Jingdezhen 333001, China
Abstract：Jingdezhen porcelain plays an important role in the development history of Chinese ceramics. According to the research, Jingdezhen ceramics were made of porcelain stone as raw material before the Song and Yuan Dynasties, namely the “single-unit” formula. After the Yuan Dynasty, a “binary” formula by adding kaolin to the “single-unit” formula was created. From the Five Dynasties to the Southern Song Dynasty, the “single-unit” formula has been widely used, and the technology level has made the quality of Jingdezhen white porcelain reach the standard of modern fine porcelain. Since this is the case, why was kaolin introduced into the blank formula in the Yuan Dynasty? Besides, it would lead to an increase in technical difficulty and cost. Is the reason for the emergence of the “binary” formula inevitable or accidental? In this paper, by combing a large number of literature, simulating experiments and modern test methods such as wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM), the advantages of “binary” formula and the historical necessity of introducing kaolin were discussed from the social, technical and economic vision at that time. The results were as follows: Socially, due to the Yuan Dynasty government's political diplomacy, military war, foreign trade management system, and living customs and religious beliefs of the Mongolian nationality and Muslims different from Han nationality, there was a new demand for big porcelain. However, the increasing size was easy for deformation and cracking, creating the conditions for finding a better raw material-kaolin. Technically, first of all, kaolin can be directly used by panning, which has great advantages as a raw material compared to the porcelain stone that needed to be pounded and panned many times. Secondly, the body of the “binary” formula can overcome the disadvantages of large temperature difference between the front and back positions of the kiln high and uncontrollable firing temperature. Finally, compared with the body of the “single-unit” formula, introducing kaolin into the porcelain body had some obvious merits including higher temperature and wider firing range, higher strength, less deformation because of the increase of aluminum content, the complexity of composition, fine particle size and fully developed mullite quantity. Those were beneficial for kiln workers controlling and mastering the production of ceramics. Economically, with the emergence of the “binary” formula, the production of Jingdezhen porcelain no longer used single porcelain stone, which not only broadened the range of raw materials but also extended the ceramic industry chain, thus increasing the market competitiveness of the products. To sum up, it can be concluded that the emergence of “binary” formula technology is due to the above three factors, and its emergence is inevitable in history.
Key words：Jingdezhen; Traditional ceramic; Body; Binary formula
莫云杰，曹春娥，韩光大，郑乃章. 景德镇传统陶瓷坯体“二元”配方谱学特性及其出现原因探析[J]. 光谱学与光谱分析, 2023, 43(11): 3412-3418.
MO Yun-jie, CAO Chun-e, HAN Guang-da, ZHENG Nai-zhang. Analysis on the Spectral Characteristics and Origin of “Binary” Formula of Jingdezhen Traditional Ceramic Body. SPECTROSCOPY AND SPECTRAL ANALYSIS, 2023, 43(11): 3412-3418.
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