Through a century of trade, area's ancient craft remains highly symbolic and poignant worldwide

Hunan has been a major producer of ceramics in China since ancient times and its porcelain has been continuously exported for more than 1,000 years, helping to promote cultural communication between China and foreign countries.

A underglaze-colored porcelain wares from Liling, a city in eastern Hunan, were displayed at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition hosted in San Francisco, the United States, and won an important award at the event. It was painted with rising hyacinth plants, representing the sowing of peaceful seeds to harvest peace, and also two birds, signifying harmony between Chinese and Western cultures.

Porcelain wares from Liling, which feature the underglaze five-color technique, as well as products from Tongguan in Changsha city, will be a highlight of the Hunan cultural promotional event in Finland. Photos Provided to China Daily

The porcelain technique has become noted at home and abroad since then and has been regarded as the height of East Asian ceramic arts, insiders said.

Liling's porcelain producers have paid much attention to exports in recent years. Products were exported to more than 150 countries and are now sold in shops in Europe, the Americas and Africa.

Liling has been home to generations of porcelain masters, dating from pottery workshops 2,000 years ago to the industries of celadon ware, whiteware and black porcelain 1,000 years ago. The region eventually became globally known for its underglaze-colored porcelain - which usually has five colors and is therefore also referred to as "underglaze five-color porcelain".

Liling now boasts 15 national-level ceramic art masters and nearly 100 provincial-level masters in the field. Among them is Peng Ling, an inheritor of the Liling underglaze five-color technique, a national intangible cultural heritage item.

In 1981, 18-year-old Peng started work in a ceramic art research institution in Hunan and learned from Wen Yuebin, disciple of noted master Wu Shouqi. Peng's works embody the essence of traditional underglaze-colored china and are colorful, glossy and bright.

Peng said: "I have participated in overseas cultural exchanges many times and I have been to Thailand, the United States and France. Foreign friends usually sing their praises when they see Liling's underglaze-colored porcelain."

Peng chose a piece of work named "Homeland" to display at the Hunan cultural promotional event in Finland from June 29 to July 3.

The work presents well-spaced woods and diverse houses, implying the beauty of life.

"Finland's weather is cold and its air is fresh; the local people have passion and rich imaginations, so I chose this work of plants and people to align with Finnish characteristics," Peng said.

She said the work can be used as a decoration or a utensil. Although she has only spent half a month making the piece, the design took her a long time, Peng added.

She said the Hunan delegation will use 200 sets of delicate ceramic cups with Liling characteristics as gifts for local residents in Finland.

Peng said: "I have been working in the industry for more than three decades and have always been hopeful. The birth of every piece of art makes me feel very excited."

She said she thinks the ceramic industry is both a traditional and an emerging sector full of innovation and vitality.

As the third-generation inheritor of the underglaze-colored porcelain technique in Liling, Peng said she will pass down the technique based on the requirements of future.

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(China Daily European Weekly 06/23/2017 page27)