Editor's Note: This article is produced in collaboration with the Chongqing Institute of Foreign Studies as part of a series of ongoing reports exploring the city’s abundant intangible cultural heritage resources.

Chongqing Porcelain: The Century-Old Craft of Jiang Family Porcelain

Deeply rooted in the ancient town of Ciqikou in Shapingba District, Chongqing, the Jiang family porcelain-making craft is a time-honored traditional art embodying centuries of cultural heritage. This craft originated in the Kangxi Period of the Qing Dynasty. The Jiang family relied on abundant resources and exquisite skills to open kilns and make porcelain here, and their craft gradually flourished. At its height, the brilliance of Jiang Porcelain rivaled the splendor evoked in Tang poetry—when autumn winds and morning dew opened the Yue kilns, releasing glazes as vivid as a thousand emerald peaks.

Jiang Porcelain is renowned for its distinctive production processes and exceptional quality. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Ciqikou gained widespread acclaim for its porcelain production, during which the craftsmanship of Jiang porcelain was continually refined and evolved. This craft encompasses numerous intricate steps, including material selection, powder grinding, clay preparation, shaping, drying, bisque firing, glazing, and glaze firing. Each step requires meticulous handwork and strict precision.

Noted for being both watertight and resonant when tapped, Jiang Porcelain stands out for its variety of forms, elegant designs, and outstanding quality. It was highly valued by merchants and customers alike. Beyond Chongqing, its reputation spread across China via the Jialing and Yangtze Rivers.

Today, this traditional craft is protected and passed down as an intangible cultural heritage. Zeng Fantao, a leading inheritor of Jiang porcelain, has established the Jiang Porcelain Exhibition Hall to present and promote over 300 years of ceramic craftsmanship and culture, playing a vital role in ensuring the continuity of this centuries-old legacy.

Chinese script: Wang  Yihao

Tutored by: Zhang Xuefeng

Translation: Yan Jingyi

Tutored by: Wei Jingjun  Tu Qingqing