Scientific and Technological Analysis of Zhaili Kiln Celadon from Late Northern Dynasties to the Tang

Zibo Zhaili Kiln is an important producing area of celadon in northern China. Through the analysis of chemical composition and firing temperature of 19 celadon and kiln furniture samples from the Northern Dynasties to the Tang Dynasty unearthed at Zhaili Kiln, explore the origin and porcelain-making technology. The results show that the porcelain body adopted a "binary formula" of local Zibo daqing-soil mixed with quartz, which increased the SiO ₂ /Al ₂ O ₃ ratio of the porcelain body and thereby reduced its firing temperature. The kiln furniture were made of the same raw materials as the porcelain body, probably existed a phenomenon of repeated use. The porcelain glaze used plant ash as a flux and added a large amount of iron-containing raw materials to imitate the glaze color of southern celadon, but the oxidizing atmosphere in the kiln made it difficult to achieve the glaze color of southern celadon. The firing temperature of Zhaili Kiln celadon was 1282°C, and the sintering degree of its body was generally low. The origin of Zhaili Kiln celadon was closely related to the demand of the noble in Shandong region. Its porcelain-making technology not only reflects the early exchange of kiln industry technology between the north and the south, but also embodies the indigenous innovation of northern kilns.