SOAS Research Online

Abstract

The first chapter introduces the background to Yue ware, the green ware produced over the period from the eighth to the eleventh century in Zhejiang province, and describes both the historical situation within the period and the ceramic tradition of the region. The second chapter discusses the literature relating to Yue ware. On account of the existence of written records, Yue ware survived descriptively and was finally identified. These literary works still remain a valuable record of traditional Chinese connoisseurship on Yue ware, and demand serious study notwithstanding the availability of the artefacts. The third chapter, based on the archaeological reports, is an account of the three main sites; Yuyao, Shangyu and Yinxian. The reports provide us with not only the location and contents of the sites but also the general characteristics of Yue ware. The fourth chapter works out the typology of shape and decoration. Apart from the archaeological material, samples from museum collections are also included as illustration. The most important element is the comparison of shape and decoration with other Tang crafts, most of -all the silverwork, lacquer, bronze and textiles. The fifth chapter deals with the problem of dating. The dated and datable pieces make possible the division of stylistic development into three stages, the most important being that around the middle of the tenth century. Final conclusions are drawn in the last chapter on the basis, firstly, of material concerned with the connoisseurship and provenance; and secondly, of the Yue ware style, taking shape and decoration into consideration as well as comparison with the Tang crafts. Using all this evidence a new dating related to the stylistic development is proposed in three main stages: (1) from middle Tang to early Wuyue kingdom; (2) from early to middle Wuyue kingdom; (3) from middle Wuyue kingdom to Northern Song.