Ding Kiln
 Ding kilns were one of the five renowned kinds of kilns of the Song
Dynasty (960-1279) in ancient northern China. Ding ware was mainly white
porcelain. The central kiln site was located in Jianci Village in Quyang County
of North China's Hebei
Province.
Scientific excavations at Ding kiln sites have shown that the central kiln at
Jianci Village covered an area of 1.17 million square meters, manufacturing
mainly white porcelain. Meanwhile, it also made porcelain vessels of green,
black, and dark brown glazes.
A considerable number of vessels were decorated with dragon
and phoenix patterns. The dragon
and phoenix were symbols of the emperor and empress -- the supreme rulers -- and
only they were qualified to use such vessels, the manufacture of which was
mainly for the imperial court. Yet studies have shown that the kilns produced
many vessels for the common people, among which were more than a few highly
artistic objects.
Ding ware was of excellent quality, being made of fine, durable, pure white
clay. The body was soft and thin and the vessels were regular in shape and
evenly glazed, the glaze containing titanium oxide. Firing turned the white
glaze slightly yellow, resulting in a subdued ivory-white ware.
The Ding kilns used the new technique of stacking
porcelain vessels on top of each other on a support ring during firing to
increase output, again facilitating porcelain production, particularly in the
aspect of glazing (as the vessel mouth-rims could not be glazed lest they stuck
to the pads between the vessels and became rejects.) Ding mouth-rims were
generally unglazed and rough, as described in books of the time. But the royal
family, high-ranking officials, and nobles were unwilling to use such vessels,
so potters smoothed the mouth-rims with gold, silver, or copper rings, making
Ding white porcelain even more costly.
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