Do You Know the Maritime Silk Road? It's Also Known as the 'Porcelain Route
Sancai Camel with Musicians Figurine (Tang Dynasty). Collection of the Shaanxi History Museum.
During the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, China, with Jingdezhen as the central kiln site, produced a vast quantity of exquisitely crafted porcelain. Blue and white porcelain, in particular, gained fame and found favor in the Western world. As a result, the Western world bestowed upon China the title of "Porcelain Capital." So, how did these ceramics make their way overseas? The story begins with the well-known Silk Road.
The opening of the Silk Road during the Han Dynasty commenced from Chang'an, traversed the Hexi Corridor, extended into Central and Western Asia, and connected various Mediterranean countries. It served as more than just a path uniting the East and the West; it laid the foundation for the cultural and trade exchanges between the two hemispheres, facilitating the fusion of Eastern and Western civilizations. The Maritime Silk Road, centered around the South China Sea, was the ancient sea route facilitating trade, cultural exchange between China and foreign nations, and is the oldest known maritime trade route to date.
Sancai Camel with Cargo (Tang Dynasty). Collection of the Xi'an Museum.
In maritime trade, the most crucial commodity was undoubtedly porcelain, to the extent that the Maritime Silk Road was also known as the "Porcelain Route." Historical records indicate that during the 16th to 18th centuries, over 300 million porcelain pieces landed in Europe. Its distribution spanned two-thirds of the Earth's continents, and this extensive demand spurred global trade, making porcelain the first truly global product.
At the time, countries worldwide were still using coarse earthenware, with some Southeast Asian nations even using plant leaves as dinnerware. In Europe, Chinese porcelain was nearly as valuable as gold, becoming a luxury for royalty and nobility. Porcelain captured the world's attention, gracing the walls of royal palaces, adorning the opulent cabinets of nobility, depicted in exquisite oil paintings, and even appearing as sacred objects among deities.
Through the Silk Road, Chinese porcelain served as a friendly emissary, transcending borders, and conveying the essence of craftsmanship, art, and culture.