Guan Ware Celadon cherished by Japanese

This year’s special exhibition, Treasured Masterpieces from the National Palace Museum, Taipei, includes the display of precious celadon items of Northern Song Ru ware and Southern Song Guan ware, which were sent to the Chinese imperial court during the Qing dynasty (1644-1912). Accordingly, this thematic exhibition, Guan Ware Celadon cherished by Japanese, traces the history of research into Guan ware undertaken in Japan, through ceramics from the Tokyo National Museum, the Tokiwayama Bunko Foundation, the Arc-en-Ciel Foundation, and other collections in Japan.

What were the details of celadon works from the legendary lost kilns of China, or of Ru ware, Northern Song Guan ware, and Southern Song Guan ware? From the start of the 20th century, Japan has developed unique lines of research into this field, based on the large number of Chinese celadon wares that were brought to, and carefully preserved in, Japan. Records of pottery fragments that Yonaiyama Tsuneo (1888–1969) collected at Southern Song Guan ware kiln sites have also greatly contributed to Guan ware research in Japan. At present, when excavations of old kiln sites and scientific analysis are dominating research efforts, the celadon items that Japanese connoisseurs in the past evaluated as being Guan ware include precious works that now reveal the existence of undiscovered kilns.

It is hoped that this exhibition will contribute to future research into celadon Guan ware.