Proto-celadon

Proto-celadon (Chinese: 灰釉陶, also 原始青瓷) was a type of Chinese ceramic which developed during the Shang and Jin periods. It is often described as "proto-porcelain", and was usually glazed in light yellowish green.^[1]

Proto-celadon jar with ears and vertical stripes, Warring States period, 475–211 BCE.

Proto-celadon Zun wine vessel, Shang period, 16–11th century BCE.

The body of proto-celadon was high-fired, the Chinese classification including porcelain, with an iron content below 3%.^[2] Firing temperature was around 1200 degrees Celsius. In Western terms the wares are stoneware. Surface treatment consisted of a lime glaze.^[2] The shapes manufactured in proto-celadon were similar to the objects manufactured in bronze.^[1]

Proto-celadon was mainly produced in the areas south of the Yangtze river.^[2] From the Han dynasty onward, production greatly improved in quantity and quality.^[2]

Inception of true celadon

Celadon lion-shaped Bixie (Chinese: 辟邪), Western Jin period, 265–317 CE.

From the Eastern Han period, true celadon ware (Chinese: 成熟青瓷) started to appear, with production focused in Zhejiang province.^[1] Although still following the shapes and patterns of proto-celadon wares, these advances now represented the characteristics of porcelain, with refined clays and appropriate firing temperatures.^[1]

These advances were followed by those of Yue ware, and the blooming of celadon production from the period of the Song dynasty.^[1]

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  Celadon Lian bowl with Buddhist figures, Western Jin, 265–317 CE.
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  Celadon jar, Eastern Jin, 317–420 CE.
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  Celadon jar with brown spots, Eastern Jin, 317–420 CE.