The discovery of Zhang Sheng's tomb (595 AD) is a milestone in the study of the origins of white porcelain: it provides early white porcelain artifacts with a clear date; compared with the white porcelain from Fan Cui's tomb of the Northern Qi dynasty, the white porcelain from Zhang Sheng's tomb is of higher quality, confirming that the Sui dynasty was the period of white porcelain maturity; its glaze is close to pure white and the body is dense and hard. This article focuses on the daily utensils and vessels unearthed from Zhang Sheng's tomb.
As early as the Northern Dynasties period, white porcelain had already begun to emerge, but it truly matured and stepped onto the stage of history during the Sui dynasty. The core difference between white porcelain and celadon lies in the extremely low iron content in the body and glaze (usually less than 1%), which requires firing at high temperatures in an oxidizing flame to produce a white body and a transparent glaze. This technological innovation made white porcelain another great invention in ceramic history after celadon.
In 2021, the dance program "Tang Palace Night Banquet" at Henan's Spring Festival Gala amazed the nation with its 14 "Tang dynasty maidens" presented in a charming and adorable style, and their visual inspiration came directly fromthe Sui dynasty musicians and dancers figurines unearthed from Zhang Sheng's tomb in Anyang, Henan, in 1959.
Painted pottery female musician figurine, collected by the Henan Museum
Zhang Sheng's tomb is a Sui dynasty brick-chambered tomb with a precise date. According to the unearthed epitaph, the tomb occupant was a Sui dynasty General Who Subdues Rebels and a Grand Master of the Palace, buried in the fifteenth year of Kaihuang (595 AD). The tomb is roughly north-south oriented in a "甲" (jia) shape, consisting of four parts: a sloping tomb passage, a corridor, side chambers, and the main burial chamber.
Zhang Sheng's tomb, image
Inscription on the epitaph of Zhang Sheng's tomb
The excavation of Zhang Sheng's tombprovided key evidence for the history of white porcelain development.Among the burial goods in Zhang Sheng's tomb, there are over 100 porcelain pieces; except for three celadon-glazed bowls, the rest are all white-glazed porcelain. Notably, six large white-glazed porcelain figurines were unearthed, becoming a new type in Sui dynasty tombs. In terms of glaze color, these pieces appear white with a hint of blue or white with a hint of yellow; the excavation report classified them as celadon, but later Mr. Feng Xianming of the Palace Museum identified them as white porcelain.
The white porcelain from this tomb includes warrior figurines, tomb guardian beasts, four-ring-footed plates, and a Go board, all exquisitely shaped and finely crafted. For example, the white-glazed warrior figurine and attendant official figurine appear as a pair—the former is mighty and imposing, while the latter is humble and gentle—demonstrating the superb level of Sui dynasty sculpture art.
Warrior figurine, attendant official figurine, and tomb guardian beast unearthed from Zhang Sheng's tomb
Particularly precious is the white-glazed Go board with 19 lines unearthed from the tomb, which is the earliest such artifact found in archaeology to date, marking the deep integration of Go culture and ceramic craftsmanship.
White-glazed Go Board Unearthed from Zhang Sheng's Tomb
The white porcelain from Zhang Sheng's Tomb not only inherited the celadon characteristics of the white porcelain from the Northern Qi Fan Cui Tomb (575 AD), but also achieved significant improvements in iron content, firing temperature, and glaze purity. For example, although the glaze pooling at the base of the tomb guardian beast shows a slight greenish tint, the overall whiteness far exceeds that of the Northern Qi period, with fine crackle patterns on the glaze surface and enhanced glassy texture, reflecting the advancement of firing techniques during the Sui Dynasty. Additionally, the white-glazed ewer with dragon-shaped handle and elephant-head spout, featuring a dragon-shaped handle and an elephant-head spout, combines practicality with artistry, making it a typical representative of Sui Dynasty white porcelain.
White Porcelain from the Northern Qi Fan Cui Tomb
Zhang Sheng's TombFeet of the Tomb Guardian Beast
The discovery of Zhang Sheng's Tomb not only confirms the important position of Anyang Xiangzhou Kiln in the production of white porcelain during the Sui Dynasty, but also reveals the evolution of white porcelain from "white with a hint of green" to "pure white like jade."
