Chinese ceramics are an important carrier and symbol of Chinese culture, and one of the outstanding ethnic genes of China, having served as a significant marker of the Chinese nation for a long period of history. The term "CHINA" in lowercase signifies "ceramics," while in uppercase it refers to "China," indicating the prominent role and influence of ceramics in the development of Chinese culture.
Chinese ceramics not only contain the background of Chinese history, culture, society, politics, and economy, but also embody the essence of science, technology, craftsmanship, and aesthetics. They occupy an extremely important position in the history of Chinese cultural development and in the cultural exchanges between China and other countries. With its exquisite craftsmanship, rich products, broad market, and frequent exchanges, Chinese ceramics stand tall in the forest of world cultures, closely related to the material and spiritual lives of people both domestically and internationally. As an integral part of Chinese culture, Chinese ceramic culture has been closely linked with Chinese food culture, wine culture, tea culture, architectural culture, clothing culture, music culture, sports culture, religious culture, poetry culture, and funeral culture since the birth of its material carrier "ceramics." Along with the vigorous development of ancient Silk Road trade, Chinese ceramics, which are admired and sought after worldwide, gradually entered the material and spiritual cultural fields of people in various countries, forming a wonderful combination of Chinese ceramic culture with the folk culture, religious culture, and painting art of the export regions.
This course consists of 30 lectures, divided into three parts. The first part includes Lectures 1 and 2, which mainly introduce the emergence of pottery and the evolution from pottery to porcelain. The second part, from Lecture 3 to Lecture 23, is based on the history of Chinese ceramics and Chinese culture, introducing the ideological culture, ideological concepts, values, and behavioral norms related to the national characteristics and style reflected by ceramics as a carrier in our country's history. The third part, from Lecture 24 to Lecture 30, mainly introduces the dissemination and influence of Chinese ceramic culture in the world, compares and analyzes the exchanges, interactions, and integrations between Chinese and foreign ceramic cultures, thereby highlighting the core position of Chinese ceramics in the history of world ceramic development, and also highlighting the significant role played by Chinese ceramics in the history of world cultural exchanges.
