The thousand-year-old flow of the charm of Chinese porcelain: “As blue as the sky, as bright as a mirror”

What magic does the “sky blue after the rain and clouds part” that haunted Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty have? It still fascinates us a thousand years later.

Blue is a fluid emotion. It is the innocence of childhood sweethearts, the depth of black hair against white snow in old age, the haziness of distant green mountains, and the clarity of the sky and clouds. When blue falls into the hands of artisans, the clay takes on form. Artisans in the Song Dynasty created dozens of glaze colors such as azure, powder blue, and plum green, each embodying the ultimate pursuit of artistic conception.

Contemporary ceramic artist Gao Zhenyu combines ancient techniques with innovation. He not only retains the gentle and lustrous quality of jade but also uses technology to enhance the texture of the glaze to a higher level. This thousand-year-old inheritance is not only a continuous pursuit of the “clear sky after rain” effect but also a reflection of the humility and inclusiveness deeply rooted in the Chinese character.

As blue as the sky and as clear as a mirror, this sky-blue hue makes the glaze of celadon the ultimate symbol of Eastern aesthetics. Today’s tea has run out. Next time, I’ll make some new ones and accompany you to enjoy art.