Individual Paper
5. Transmitting Knowledges: Institutions, Objects and Practices
Blue and white porcelain has been a prominent variety in global ceramic trade since the mid-15th century. Among them, the blue and white porcelain produced in Jingdezhen is highly esteemed by scholars for its exquisite craftsmanship and distinct style. Archaeological evidence suggest that these early products were exported to Southeast Asian countries catering to different consumer groups. However, the majority of them were primarily consumed by the upper-class society, only a limited portion reaching the civilians. With the advent of global trade, coastal regions in Southeast China began to imitate and produce a substantial quantity of blue and white porcelain to meet the increasing demand. This led to the flourishing kiln industry of blue and white porcelain in Fujian and Guangdong, including Hong Kong. It was these imitated products that truly reached the hands of civilians in Southeast Asian countries, significantly influencing their lifestyle and culture. Hence, this paper will study the blue-and-white porcelain produced in Fujian, Guangdong and Hong Kong that has been unearthed from kiln sites, shipwrecks, and archaeological sites in China and Southeast Asia dating from the 16th to the 19th century. By applying the anthropological framework of Low-end Globalization, it will explore the expectations of various trading parties, as well as the reasons behind the emergence of this imitation industry and its linkage to consumers' demand. These imitated blue and white porcelain products played an indispensable role in shaping the later ceramic trade between China and Southeast Asia.
Po Sing Ansen Yam
Peking University, Hong Kong