In China, main porcelain categories according to regions can be divided into celadon porcelain in Zhejiang, white porcelain in Hebei and Fujian, blue and white porcelain in Jiangxi, Jun porcelain in Henan, red stoneware in Jiangsu and underglazed porcelain in Hunan porcelain.
Different regions have greatly different ceramic technologies and styles. In terms of porcelain, celadon porcelain is sought after. It is famous for its elegant green color. It has smooth and glossy surface, featuring cracked and non-cracked glazes. While white porcelain makes use of natural color of clay. It is decorated through carving, printing, piling and sticking, openwork carving and other skills, and then glazed on the green body and fired in the kiln. Tea sets carved in the hollow style are very exquisite. And in addition to bowls, plates, trays, zhuhu (warming bowls), basin and other wares, there are figures, Buddha statues, etc., at the same time. Jun porcelain is not as exquisite as white porcelain and celadon porcelain. It is more rugged in style, and more gorgeous in color, usually mixed with purple, red, green, blue and other colors, hence it is very distinctive. Blue and white porcelain in Jiangxi region is of elegant style, and it belongs to underglaze with blue patterns, landscape patterns or figures painted the white greenware, which is unique. And underglazed porcelain in Hunan is special with figures, animals, landscape patterns and other paintings drawn in various colors on greenware.
There are numerous ceramic technology practitioners in each production region, and a lot of masters in the ceramic field in China, including Chen Wenzeng as a national master of white porcelain in Hebei, as well as Lai Dequan, Ning Qinzheng, Li Wenyue, Xiong Gangru as national masters in Jiangxi region. They are leading figures in the field, and have made outstanding contributions to development of ceramic art locally and nationally as they not only create and design works, but also teach apprentices skills.
