China, as one of the world's most ancient civilizations, has made a multiple of contributions for the advancement and improvement of human societies, among which pottery and porcelain occupy a unique position and boast great significance. It is fair to say that ceramics history is a very important part of China's history. Ceramics of distinctively different artistic and technological styles in different periods throughout different dynasties contain both scientific and aesthetic features. The word "china" clearly shows that the country is the "home of pottery and porcelain."

About 1,000 years before the Europeans mastered the technology of producing porcelain, Chinese could already make very delicate and refined chinaware. China was among the first countries in the world to use pottery, while another invention, porcelain, has throughout the ages and the world been admired and valued for its use and beauty. 

Pottery and porcelain refer to all products, which are made of a mixture of clay, the main ingredient, feldspar, and quartz, after shaping, drying, and firing. Archaeological finds have revealed that humankind first invented pottery in the Neolithic Age in China (approximately 8,000-2,000BC). Farm production, which arose in the latter stage of primitive society, led to a fairly stable, settled life for Chinese ancestors, which made the invention of pottery necessary. For convenience and to improve living standards, ancient Chinese experimented with making vessels, gradually developing the art of firing pottery out of clay.

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