Tradition
Song Dynasty Ceramics
China · 960–1279 CE
The peak. Simplicity elevated to perfection.
Many consider Song dynasty ceramics the greatest ever made—not for decoration, but for its absence.
The Song dynasty produced ceramics of such refined simplicity that collectors and potters have been trying to match them for 800 years. The famous 'five great kilns'—Ru, Guan, Ge, Jun, and Ding—each developed distinctive glazes and forms. Ru ware survives in fewer than 100 pieces; a single bowl can sell for tens of millions of dollars. What makes Song ceramics extraordinary isn't complexity but restraint. Forms are pure, often simple bowls and dishes. Glazes are usually monochrome—subtle celadons, creamy whites, lavender-streaked jun.
What would it mean to pursue simplicity as the highest goal?
Techniques
- Monochrome glazes
- Refined throwing
- Subtle carving
- High-fire stoneware