Ming Dynasty
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Glasgow Museums has a collection of 323 objects from the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). This collection contains bronzes replicating ritual food and wine vessels, blue-and-white ceramics, fahua ceramics and monochrome ceramic dishes and plates. There are also ceramic models of Chinese gods and goddesses, the Buddha and mythical lion dogs. In addition, the collection includes roof tiles, temple vases, fish bowls, underglaze copper-red and cobalt-blue ceramics, jades and a marble panel. The collection notably contains the celebrated and life-size stoneware figure of a Luohan – a Buddhist who has achieved enlightenment. The Ming Dynasty, dating from 1368 to 1644, followed nearly a century of foreign rule by the Mongols. Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang (1328–98) founded the Ming dynasty in Nanjing. His reign, called Hongwu, means ‘Vast Military Power’. Hongwu palace porcelain, as described in Jingdezhen Taolu (Records of Jingdezhen Ceramics), was renowned for its fine, smooth clay and the delicacy of the potting – the way the potter works the clay. The Ming emperors revived ancient Chinese customs and traditions and actively patronized the production of ceramics. They established imperial kilns at Jingdezhen, Jianxi province, in the late 14th century. The most famous ceramics were blue-and-white underglaze wares, the technology for which led to the creation of the famous blue-and-white wares of China and their eventual trade around the world.
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