Why is Porcelain called China?

Article by Giovanna Alessia Crisan and Andrés Kriz
Porcelain has been called by many names but why “China”? It has to do with not only the origin of Porcelain itself but also how it made its way to the known world. Porcelain was invented in China through a length iterative process that started around 2,000 years ago, only reaching a product resembling the high-quality white and translucent pieces we see today in the 8^th century. The difficulty to recreate it and its rarity outside of China caused porcelain to be prized and sought after by western and eastern royalty alike. Today, there exists many different types of Chinese porcelain each evolving and innovating upon the techniques for making traditional porcelain in unique and diverse ways.

A brush on a blue and white china dish

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How was traditional Chinese porcelain made? The west uses the term porcelain to refer to white ceramics that have been fired in a kiln at temperatures of around 1300 °, but in China there exists several white ceramics that all might be termed porcelain. The variation between ceramics in China had to do with geographical location as the two main materials for Chinese porcelain; Kaolin rich clay and porcelain stone were abundant in the North and South respectively. In northern China, due to the abundance of the mineral in the clay, wares were often made of kaolin, creating pieces like Ding ware which was named for the prefecture they were produced in (Ding Zhou) and so fine that they were the first to be used for imperial purposes within the palace, in the south, the greater abundance of porcelain stone made it the main element of porcelain in the south. There also existed variations between the north and south by how they fired their ceramics in oxidizing or reducing conditions, historically porcelain in the north was said to be denser and compact with a warm, ivory-colored glaze from being fired in oxidation, while the south’s porcelain was more glassy, with a texture and sparkle of fine sugar with a cool, bluish glaze from being fired in oxidation.

Starting from China, porcelain found its way to Europe thanks to an enthusiastic western explorer: Marco Polo. Thanks to his 13th-century journey along the Silk Road, he introduced Europe to the fascinating Chinese porcelain, a material he described extensively in his accounts of Zayton and Tingui, now known as Quanzhou and Dehua, two of the most renowned centers of ceramic production. Following archaeological discoveries in these regions, there was enough evidence to prove the existence of the same delicate Qingbai wares he admired. Moreover, a porcelain jar linked to Polo’s era is still preserved in Venice’s San Marco treasury. His writings opened China to the West while sparking European curiosity that would later be fulfilled through maritime trade: from the 16th century onward, Portuguese and Dutch merchants carried large amounts of Chinese porcelain to Europe, which became the cradle of luxury and precious materials. This east-to-west journey not only transformed global trade but paved the way to China’s influence as the birthplace of the world’s most sought-after ceramic art.

A map with a feather and a pen

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Over time, Chinese porcelain has evolved, becoming both daily-ware and high art deeply rooted in China’s culture and craftsmanship. The co-existence of distinguished styles such as the soft-green celadon of Long Quan, the snow-white “Blanc de Chine” from Dehua and the elegant blue-and-white wares from Jingdezhen, all reflect geography, materials and cultural taste. These creations are not just for show: they are part of everyday Chinese life (tea sets, tableware, decorative vases) which has evolved and changed while preserving its 2000+ years roots at the same time. Considering the modern market, these porcelain forms also intersect with design, luxury and export trends, proving that China still dominates both the craft and commerce of fine ceramics.

A white statue of a person

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Porcelain is called “China” because it embodies the very essence of the nation that created it: its invention, refinement and global journey all trace back to Chinese soil, artisans and innovation. From its ancient kilns to the halls of European palaces, porcelain carried the name and prestige of China across the world. More than a material, porcelain became a symbol of elegance, endurance and cultural identity.

A close-up of a set of writing tools

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