Craft:Chinese traditional handicraft with thousands of years history

Origin:Luoyang

Tang San Cai, also called Tricolor Glazed Pottery and a gem of ancient Chinese art, is a kind of handmade glazed ware of exquisite craftsmanship created in the Northern and Southern Dynasty (386-589) about 1,400 years ago. During the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the production of Tang San Cai reached its peak, which is part of the reason the pottery got the name of Tang San Cai.

Luoyang, named the eastern capital in ancient times, in Henan Province was the home of Tang San Cai, and most of unearthed Tang San Cai was found in Luoyang.

Tang San Cai is a polychrome handicraft with yellow, green, and white as its major tones. It is fired with lead glaze and presents a harmonious complex of varied colors, deep and light. The process is complicated: first, bake the ready mode in kilns until the temperature reaches 1,100oC, then take it out and apply glaze on it; bake it again in kilns at a temperature of about 900¡ãC.

Tang San Cai items that have been unearthed include horses, humans, and even pillows, and camels, of which the pottery camel is one of the best. Its head rises high, as if telling stories about merchant caravans along the Silk Road in the remote past and the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty.

Being the gem of ancient Chinese art, Tang San Cai absorbed the advantages of Chinese painting, sculpture and stone carving. It features fleshy figures, regular and exquisite technics, compact carving traces, and smooth lines, indicating the high-level of the craft reached in the Tang Dynasty. Tang San Cai is primaryly divided into pottery tomb-figures and daily commodities.

After the founding of new China, specialized institutions have been set up to study the technics of making Tang San Cai, which has boosted the development of the craft.

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Rich Artistic Connotation & Historical Background:

These seated terracotta figures are masterpieces of ancient Chinese art and represent an important element of traditional Chinese culture.

They are renowned for their unique shapes and exquisite craftsmanship.

The figures are seated in a graceful pose, as if enjoying the scenery around them, giving people a sense of tranquility and peace.

The designs of these terracotta figures were inspired by mythical creatures from ancient Chinese legends, such as dragons and phoenixes, which symbolize good fortune and happiness.

By observing these terracotta figures, we can gain insight into some of the important values of ancient Chinese culture, such as respect for nature and the pursuit of harmony.

These terracotta figures also reflect the attention to detail and the pursuit of beauty by ancient Chinese artists.

The production process involves multiple steps, including carving and firing, each requiring meticulous operation and patient waiting.

The production process also reflects the spirit and technical level of ancient Chinese artisans.

In summary, these seated terracotta figures are treasures of traditional Chinese culture, not only having artistic value but also carrying rich historical and cultural connotations.

By appreciating these terracotta figures, we can better understand the essence and charm of ancient Chinese culture.