Every Chinese ceramic has two main components. The glaze and clay make up the “physical” component, as introduced on the previous page.

The second component could be called the “spiritual”. It includes the shapes, the patterns and the designs. This component was influenced by trends and cultural influences, both in China and abroad, and from the emperors themselves all the way down to the people running the noodle stalls.

With so many influences over such a long period of time, a simpler system of organization is needed. Thankfully, there’s one already in place and you’ve already heard of it. It’s the organization of Chinese history by dynasty. Dynasties are the best way to make sense of China’s long history and they also make for an excellent timeline to understand the ceramics history.