Collected in the ancient underground palace of Dingzhou Museum. White glazed lotus petal-engraved bowl with Chinese inscription of “Guan”. Five Dynasties to the early Northern Song Dynasty

Inscriptions on Ding Kiln

Ding porcelain has 15 kinds of inscriptions, mostly concerning the imperial court. The “Guan” (government) inscription accounts for the majority, with around 80 pieces excavated and passed down, according to an incomplete survey. Most of the “Guan” inscribed porcelain are bowls, and some are vases and pots. The “Guan” inscribed porcelain were mostly unearthed from the tombs from the Five Dynasties to the early Northern Song Dynasty.

Ding kiln Medicine Box from the Bureau of Administration of Royal Medicinal Affairs, lid missing, caliber 8.5cm. Collected in East Asian Museum in Stockholm, Sweden

There are also inscriptions from “Shangshi Ju” (Bureau of Administration of Royal Dietary Affairs) and “Shangyao Ju” (Bureau of Administration of Royal Medicinal Affairs). In addition to these two kinds of inscriptions, there are also inscriptions carved by jade craftsmen of the court, such as “Fenghua”, “Cifu”, “Juxiu”, “Jinyuan” and “Deshou”, all relevant to the imperial buildings.

By Zheng Chao

Editor: Liu Fang