Enamel-decorated porcelains
Enamel-decorated porcelain, a fusion of Arabian enamel-making and Chinese porcelain-making, is further evidence of cultural exchanges between the East and West. The nobility in the West had rising demand for China’s porcelain, while painting on the porcelain was noticeably improved with the introduction of Western paintings into China. The Qing dynasty took over the country in 1644. Porcelains decorated with enamel were signature pieces of […]
How Porcelain is Made
China, or porcelain, is made by molding china clay into desired shapes, glazed and fired at 1200 Celsius. You can hear a clear metallic sound if you tap a piece of china. Porcelain was first made by craftsmen in Zhejiang province during the Eastern Han dynasty (25-220). Those first china had a blue tint. Black glazed porcelain was also […]
Porcelain – Yuan Qinghua
Porcelain-making had been enhanced by the Mongolians who ruled China during the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368). From the Yuan dynasty, Jingdezhen became the porcelain-making center in China. The world-famous “Yuan Qinghua”, which literally means “Yuan dynasty flower design porcelain”, was also made during that time. “Yuan Qinghua” porcelain was mainly made in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province. Kilns in Zhejiang province and Yunnan province also made […]
Why Do Americans Like Mulan?
Mulan is familiar to Americans of all ages. With the 1998 Walt Disney animation Mulan, the historical character is as popular in the United States as she is in China. Out of the tens of thousands of stories from Chinese history and folklore, what is the special appeal to the story of Mulan? Why did […]
Flower Appreciation
Once, I walked by a swarm of people conversing happily. Out of curiosity, I moved toward them to take a look. Elbowing my way through the crowd, I rested my eyes on a potted flower; a gorgeous, big white bloom. Among those present was the owner of the flower, who was sharing an array of […]
Dahlia Flower
The Dahlia flower, native to Mexico and South America, blooms in the warm months of spring and summer. The flower was named after botanist Anders Dahl but has many aliases in other cultures. In Japanese, the flower is known as “Peony of India.” Its double-petal forms are as elegant, magnificent and graceful as the precious […]