Dezhou black pottery: reviving the art of earth and fire

2022-07-21 10:34

　　Dezhou is an important birthplace of black pottery culture and the birthplace of modern black pottery art in China. Black pottery is the most important pottery art after Yangshao culture and is known as "the art of earth and fire, the crystallization of power and beauty".

　　The discovery and establishment of black pottery, which originated in the Neolithic period, is the landmark of Longshan culture. It provides solid archeological evidence for the "theory of indigenous origin" of China's ancient civilization and fundamentally refutes the "Western origin of Chinese civilization," marking a milestone in the history of Chinese archeology.

　　Dezhou borders the Yellow River to the south and the canal to the west. The mud from these two rivers is the best raw material for making black pottery. With more than twenty processes, Dezhou black pottery is as black as lacquer, as shiny as a mirror, as hard as porcelain and as loud as a drizzle. The firing technique of Dezhou black pottery has become a national intangible cultural heritage.

　　Dezhou was once the core area of Longshan culture, and black pottery from Dezhou has existed since ancient times. With its profound historical background and rich humanistic connotation, black pottery culture represents the original dragon lineage of Chinese culture.

　　However, the ancient black pottery existed in the world only for more than 500 years, and then there was no information and no end. After half a century, the industrious and wise people in Dezhou deciphered the code of black pottery production and ensured that black pottery, which had disappeared for thousands of years, had a glorious rebirth here.

　　The longstanding cultural origin, advanced art concept, and contemporary function make Dezhou black pottery a pioneer in the development of the national black pottery industry. Whether it is the theoretical research or the production process, whether it is the technical strength or the industrial scale, the leaders and the expert team are the flagship of the national black pottery industry. With frequent exhibitions, traveling shows, awards, inclusion in collections and as a national gift, Dezhou black pottery has become famous at home and abroad, and Dezhou has been awarded the title of "China Black Pottery City".