The History and Evolution of Ru Ware Celadon

1. Origins (Northern Song Dynasty: 960-1127 AD)

- Imperial Commission:

  • Founded circa 1086 under Emperor Huizong's decree

  • Exclusive to royal court for 40 years (1086-1126)

- Legendary Standard:

  • "Sky-after-rain" glaze color mandated by imperial poem

  • Only 1% of kiln output deemed acceptable

2. Golden Age (1100-1125 AD)

- Technical Mastery:

  • Agate-infused glaze (0.3-0.5% crushed gemstones)

  • Wood-fired at 1280-1320°C with pine ash effects

- Cultural Status:

  • Ranked top among "Five Great Kilns" of Song

  • Used exclusively for imperial tea ceremonies

3. Destruction & Loss (1127 AD)

- Jurchen Invasion:

  • Kilns destroyed during Jin-Song wars

  • Artisans fled south, techniques fragmented

- Post-Song Attempts:

  • Southern Song (1127-1279): Failed replicas lacked agate glaze

  • Ming/Qing: Imitations used cobalt for celadon effect

4. Modern Revival (20th-21st Century)

- Archaeological Rediscovery:

  • 1987: Ru kiln sites identified in Baofeng, Henan

  • 2000: Palace Museum shards analyzed via XRF

- Contemporary Breakthroughs:

  • 2012: Successful agate glaze reconstruction

  • 2020: "Living frost" veins replicated via thermodynamic modeling

5. Key Historical Artifacts

- Surviving Pieces:

  • 87 confirmed authentic works worldwide

  • Most in Taipei Palace Museum (21 pieces)

- Iconic Examples:

  • "Ru Narcissus Basin" - auctioned for $37M in 2017

  • "Azure-Washed Moon Flask" - UNESCO heritage 2015