Magnificent context｜Thousand-year-old kiln fires are endless

Editor's note: Continue the historical context and compose contemporary chapters. Since the new era, under the guidance of Xi Jinping’s cultural thoughts, the inheritance and development of China’s excellent traditional culture has taken on a new look and created a new situation. Each cultural heritage, from tradition to modernity, connects history and future, and becomes a vivid cultural business card for the world to understand China and for China to go global. The "Lianbo" column specially launches the "Passing on the Fire" series of planning to experience the Chinese cultural heritage from cultural inheritance.

In Longquan, Zhejiang, a famous national historical and cultural city that thrives on "porcelain", there is the only special museum in China that comprehensively and systematically introduces the traditional firing techniques of Longquan celadon.

The completion of this museum is closely related to General Secretary Xi Jinping.

Longquan Celadon Museum photographed in June 2021.

The traditional firing technique of Longquan celadon began in the Three Kingdoms and Jin Dynasty and flourished in the Song and Yuan Dynasties. It is a "cultural symbol" alongside Song poetry and Song paintings. It is also the only ceramic project so far selected into the "Representative List of Human Intangible Cultural Heritage". From the 12th to the 15th century AD, Longquan celadon was not only popular in China, but also sought after by the world porcelain market, influencing and leading the aesthetics and production of ceramics around the world at that time.

In 2005, Xi Jinping, then Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee, visited Longquan for investigation. The local area reported that the archaeological excavation of the Fengdongyan site in Longquan Kiln had achieved significant results, but the existing museum could not accommodate the unearthed cultural relics. Xi Jinping said on the spot that Longquan celadon is a treasure of national culture and it is necessary to build a celadon museum. He also specifically told local cadres that the new museum does not necessarily need to be large in scale, but it must have personality and characteristics.

Soon, the subsidy funds were secured and the museum construction project was launched.

At that time, Longquan was an underdeveloped county in a mountainous area and faced financial constraints. A person from Longquan said: "Without Secretary Xi's support, we would not dare to build such a museum, and Longquan celadon culture would not be well promoted and developed."

Since 2010, the Longquan Celadon Museum has been open to the public, vividly telling the world the rise, prosperity, decline and revival of the Longquan porcelain industry.

On September 14, 2021, at the Zhejiang Provincial Museum, spectators took photos of the Northern Song Dynasty Longquan kiln ewers and the ewers made by Longquan celadon artist Liu Jie.

Today, in Longquan, a small town with a population of less than 300,000, there are more than 20,000 people working in the celadon industry. On average, there is one well-known master of celadon arts and crafts for every 1,000 Longquan people.

In the origin and central production area of ​​Longquan kiln, a national archaeological site park has also been established. Inside, people can take a close look at sites for processing mud, workshops for making ceramics and other relics, and can also learn about archaeological excavations and restoration of cultural relics.

In Longquan Celadon Industrial Park, Celadon Makers inject technology and fashion elements into celadon production and develop "celadon" creative products that are both practical and beautiful. Since 2017, Longquan has deeply developed the traditional celadon firing techniques and launched a cultural tourism IP called "Immortal Kiln Fire" to reshape the firing customs of Longquan celadon.

From history to the future, the fire of the kiln will continue for thousands of years.

On July 23, 2022, the wooden structure on the roof of the National Edition Museum in Hangzhou and the celadon door leaf complement each other.

At the entrance of the Hangzhou National Edition Museum, about 70,000 hand-fired celadon pieces form a celadon door leaf. It is beautiful when opened and unique when closed, attracting countless people to "check in" for sightseeing.

General Secretary Xi Jinping said that Longquan celadon is a cultural treasure of the Chinese nation and "must be well protected, inherited and promoted." Longquan people have never forgotten it.

Mobile phone resonance speakers incorporating celadon elements are sold overseas, and celadon cups that can massage hands have become a health-preserving "artifact" sought after by urban white-collar workers... Generations of celadon artists have guarded this touch of "green" and explored the infinite possibilities of celadon.

The "Green Lotus" tea and coffee set at the G20 Hangzhou Summit, the "Longquan Porcelain Doll" at the Hangzhou Asian Games... In recent years, Longquan Celadon has frequently appeared on the international stage, becoming known to more people with its richer styles and more youthful appearance.

During this May Day holiday, the Longquan Celadon Museum received more than 26,000 visitors, a year-on-year increase of 30%, most of whom were young people.

In front of the Longquan Celadon Museum stands a "Care Stone", which records the story of General Secretary Xi Jinping's care and support for the construction of the museum. It witnesses that the millennium kiln fire of Longquan celadon is full of vitality in the new era.

Proofreading | Li Dansun Xiaoyuan, Song Chunyan, Liang Yaqin, Lou Hao