Hengshan, with a long history, is a remarkable place producing outstanding people. The famille-rose porcelain of Hengshan Kiln pioneered the use of powder coated glazed decorative porcelain in China. Nowadays, the traditional making techniques of Hengshan kiln are being continued and developed by Hengshan people.

Hengshan kiln sites are densely distributed, with a total of 16 large and small kiln piles. It’s famous for its unique famille-rose porcelain, which started in the late Northern Song Dynasty in the years of Daguan and Zhenghe and ended in the middle of the Yuan Dynasty.

In recent years, Hengshan kiln has been continuously excavated and protected. In February 2023, the traditional making techniques of Hengshan kiln were selected into the eighth batch of representative projects of municipal intangible cultural heritage in Hengyang city.

In the Sanhe Porcelain Factory, ceramic tiles with different colors are placed on the table. Next to them are piles of bottles and jars used to make porcelain. This simple “laboratory” is where Duan Yongming and Yuan Shuiquan work every day.

Sanhe Porcelain Industry originally focused on the production and operation of ancient architectural glazed tiles. In 2023, under the leadership of the government, Duan Yongming, Yuan Shuiquan and others came up with the idea of exploring the production process of Hengshan kiln.

The key to exploring Hengshan kiln technique lies in coating the surface of the embryo with a thin layer of clay, which is then painted and fired to form a famille-rose porcelain ware with a beautiful color.

Duan Yongming and Yuan Shuiquan also applied this technique to the production of glazed tiles, making products more diversified, the glaze colors more complete, and more popular among consumers.

Regarding the future, Yuan Shuiquan, the chief craftsman of Sanhe Ceramics, is full of expectations. “We are preparing to establish the Hengshan Kiln Studio and invite like-minded ceramic enthusiasts who are interested in Hengshan Kiln to study and promote it together, so that Hengshan Kiln can shine again in the new era.”