Vessel fragments are found in the Baoding kiln in Lishui. [Photo/WeChat account: lsnews]

Baoding village – located in the Liandu district of Lishui city in East China's Zhejiang province – was once the ceramic producing center of the Oujiang River basin in the Yuan (1271-1368) and Ming (1368-1644) dynasties.

Originating in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), Baoding kiln entered its heyday in the Yuan Dynasty and declined during the Ming Dynasty. At present, 12 Baoding kiln sites still exist, which are cultural relics protection items of Lishui.

Previously, the Department of Cultural Heritage and Museology of Fudan University in Shanghai published the first investigation report, Baoding Kiln Sites in Lishui. In order to further research and recreate the history of the Baoding kiln, the Liandu Cultural Relics Protection Institution, together with Fudan University, conducted a detailed investigation of the 12 kiln sites from July to August in 2020.

During the investigation, a total of 1,704 specimens and a large number of vessel fragments were collected.

The investigation concluded that the Baoding kiln started up in the early 13th century. It also suggested that there may have been technological interactions with the kiln in southern Zhejiang. Moreover, the development of the Baoding kilns coincidentally corresponded to the developing stages of the domestic and foreign trade of the Longquan kilns at that time.

The Baoding kiln sites reflect the development of the local kiln industry and the improvement of manufacturing techniques. Having survived to this era, the sites are said to form a unique landscape of kiln relics.