Jingdezhen

A prefecture-level city in the northeastern part of Jiangxi Province, China. It governs two city districts and one county, and acts as the deputy governor of one county-level city (as of 2016). Population: 1,523,329 (2010). Since ancient times, it has produced high-quality clay and has good land and sea transportation, so potters settled there and developed. It was originally called Changnan Town. In 583, it presented pottery to the Chen Dynasty, and at the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, a potter named Tao Yu presented pottery to the Tang Dynasty, calling it dummy jadeware, and it became famous as Tao Kiln. Tao Kiln was also called Chang Kiln after the place name. In the early 11th century, it produced pottery for the Song Dynasty, so the place name was changed to Jingdezhen after the era name at that time. Later, excellent potters came to live in the area from northern China, which had been devastated by the Jin invasion, and the area surpassed other kilns in both quantity and quality. Many masterpieces were produced during the Yuan dynasty, and the Imperial Pottery Factory, a government-exclusive factory, was established in the Ming and Qing dynasties. The area was at its peak during the reigns of the Yongzheng and Qianlong, with a population of 400,000 and many products exported overseas, becoming beloved in European countries. At the end of the Qing dynasty, excessive demand led to an increase in cheap products, but in recent years, under the concept of a modern industrial city, the area is returning to its former prosperity, centered around the Ceramic Research Institute and the Pottery Museum.

[Hoshi Hideo, Editorial Department, February 16, 2017]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、江西(こうせい)省北東部の地級市。2市轄区、1県を管轄し、1県級市の管轄代行を行う（2016年時点）。人口152万3329（2010）。古くから良質の陶土を産し水陸交通の便もよいことから陶工が住みついて発達し、初め昌南(しょうなん)鎮といった。583年、陳(ちん)朝に陶器を献上し、唐の初め陶玉という陶工が陶器を仮玉器(かぎょくき)と称して唐朝に献上してから、陶窯とよばれて有名になった。陶窯はまた地名にちなんで昌窯ともよばれた。11世紀初め、宋(そう)の御用陶器を製造したので、地名を当時の年号にちなんで景徳鎮と改めた。その後、金(きん)の侵攻で荒廃した華北から優れた陶工が来住したので、量・質ともに他窯を圧倒し、元代にも多くの逸品をつくり、明(みん)・清(しん)代には政府の専用工場である御器廠(ぎょきしょう)が置かれた。雍正(ようせい)・乾隆(けんりゅう)のころはその最盛期で、人口も40万に達し、数多くの製品が海外にも輸出され、ヨーロッパ各国で愛された。清末には需要過多のために粗品が多くなったが、昨今は近代工業都市的構想のもとに、陶瓷(とうし)研究所や陶器館を中心として、往年の盛況に戻りつつある。

［星　斌夫・編集部　2017年2月16日］

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