The invention and mass production of porcelains are China's great contributions to world civilisation. Since the Tang Dynasty, porcelain has been steadily traded to the world through the land and maritime Silk Road, the Ancient Tea Horse Road, the new sea route and so forth. Based on porcelain production centres such as Jingdezhen, Changsha, Longquan, Dehua and Yangjiang and major porcelain traders including the East India Company and the "Thirteen Hongs" in Guangzhou, the book artistically tells the history of porcelain trade, its stories and history. The author picks the facts that are persuasive and eye-catching such as material on trade groups, porters, wharves, fleets, caravans, archaeological artefacts and historical figures. These stories on porcelain, transaction and trade routes vividly reproduce the grand picture of how porcelain is stepping on to the world stage from both the time and spatial dimensions. The book explains the integrative development of culture and economy and the driving forces of porcelain exports; shows the contribution of the east-west traders to cultural and material exchanges; displays China's perseverance, fearlessness and entrepreneurship; demonstrates Chinese virtues of diligence, wisdom and honesty; carries forward China's openness and tolerance and also the Silk Road spirits of solidarity, mutual trust, equality, mutual benefit, inclusiveness, reciprocal learning and win-win cooperation.
About the Author: Yong Chen, the ancient ceramic appraisal expert of the Shanghai Antiques and Art Research Center, the appraisal expert of the Shanghai TV program " Bai Xing Jian Bao", engaged for a long period in the work of helping overseas cultural relics come back to China, a member of China Ancient Ceramics Research Association, a member of China Writer's Association. He has already published many books including Porcelain Authenticity from Jin, Tang, Song and Yuan Dynasty, Porcelain authenticity from Ming and Qing Dynasty, Chinese Porcelain Appreciation and Recognition, The Elements of Antique Authenticity, Early Arabia Pottery, The impact of China artwork in European for 300 Years, The Beauty of Royal Kiln and The treasure of Mrs Pompadour.Yunyun Zheng, the arts and crafts master of Jiangxi province, a member of the Chinese Artists Association, the director of the Institute of Chinese painting in Jiangxi province, the vice-chairman of the Chinese Artists Association in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, a famous female prose writer and a member of China Writer's Association. She published Kiln Fire of Thousand Years, A Wonderland, Handwriting of Making Porcelain, Bright, Sleek and Smooth: Ceramics from Ming Dynasty, Artists in the world of Ceramic and so on. One of her works won China's first prize in "Bing Xin prose" and also won the first Excellent Literature and Art Prize of Jiangxi Province.Xin Hu, a Chinese writer, is a counsellor of the People's Government of Jiangxi Province. She is a director and professor both in Film Art Research Center and the Chinese Department, Nanchang University. She is a Master Tutor in Radio and Television Art as well as Modern and Contemporary Literature, a member of Jiangxi Artists Association, an honorary citizen of Jingdezhen. She receives special government allowances. As her work "Forty-four-year old woman" won the national outstanding novel award, she was named the ten outstanding contemporary Chinese biography writer. Till now she has published 38 books. Her representative works "Rose rain", "Miss porcelain incense", "Chiang Ching Kuo and Zhang Yaro's love" and so on made a great impact at home and abroad, translated into English and Japanese. A 9 set TV series "Jingdezhen" among her works won the Chinese TV Award, she also made television film "porcelain celebrities", "the amazing ceramic" etc. She had visited the United States, Malaysia, Czech, Egypt, South Africa, Turkey and many other countries many times with the Delegation of Chinese Writers.