Jingdezhen Traditional Porcelain Kiln Workshop Construction Techniques

Jingdezhen is a renowned ceramic capital, known for its distinctive porcelain industry architecture and construction techniques. The kiln workshops within traditional ceramic production compounds are rare physical evidence of China’s handicraft industry, holding significant historical, scientific, and tourism value.

Since the late Ming Dynasty, Jingdezhen’s urban layout has remained largely unchanged. Within the 2-square-kilometer old town, porcelain workshops and kilns form the city’s core architectural landscape. Dense clusters of workshops and kilns create a unique townscape. The construction techniques matured and peaked during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

The unique forms, structures, materials, and functional needs of kilns, kiln shelters, and workshops gave rise to specialized techniques. For example, the “Zhenyao” (eggs-shaped kiln), popular since the Yongzheng reign, is a downdraft kiln combining advantages of dragon, mantou, and 葫芦 (gourd) kilns, regarded as the most outstanding kiln type of ancient China. Kiln building and repair, known as “luanyao” locally, are unique to Jingdezhen. Workshops are compact and combine production with living spaces. Traditional kiln houses are spacious, well-ventilated, economical, and multi-functional—serving as storage, production, and living areas. They required high construction standards and distinctive craftsmanship, shaping Jingdezhen’s urban character and technical legacy.