Spectroscopy and Spectral Analysis, Volume. 45, Issue 2, 448(2025)

Research on the Chemical and Mineral Composition of Jian Wares in the Song Dynasty Using Multiple Spectroscopic Techniques

WANG Tian1, YANG Shao-xiong1, XIA Sen-wei1, WANG Fen1, WANG Ying1, SUN Jian-xing2, SUN Li2, LI Qiang3, LUO Hong-jie1,4, and ZHU Jian-feng1
Author Affiliations
  • 1School of Material & Science & Engineering, School of Conservation Science & Technology for Cultural Heritage, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, China
  • 2The Ceramic Research Institute of the Jian Kiln of Nanping, Nanping 353000, China
  • 3Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China
  • 4Key Laboratory of Silicate Cultural Relics Conservation (Shanghai University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai 200444, China
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    Jian kilns in Nanping City, Fujian Province, were famous during the Song Dynasty (CE 960-1276), producing black glazed tea-bowls. Jian kilns were created during the late Tang and Five Dynastiesand lasted through the Song, Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Jian wares havenumerous varieties and various glaze colors, mainly including pure black glaze, hare's fur (HF) glaze, and persimmon red (PR) glaze. These types not only occupied an important position in the history of ancient Chinese ceramics but also profoundly influenced the history of ancient Asian ceramics, especially the history of ancient Japanese ceramics. Much research was devoted to analyzing Jian wares' chemical composition and microstructure to understand color generation and manufacturing technology. However, the differences betweenthese representative types (black glaze, HF glaze, and PR glaze) concerning the raw materials and preparation process are still unclear. In this work, various spectroscopic techniques such as X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF), micro confocal Raman spectrometer (μ-RS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and spectrophotometer combing optical microscope (OM) were applied to study the microstructure, chemical and mineral composition, and glaze appearance of black glaze, HF glaze, and PR glaze of Jian kilns. The results showed no significant difference in the content of most major elements, except for the CaO content in black glaze, which was ~1 wt% higher than that in HF glaze and PR glaze. The coloring elements are Fe2O3. The Fe2O3 content of black glaze and HF glaze is similar (6.0~7.0 wt%), while the iron content of PR glaze is the highest (10.5 wt%). The high content of Fe2O3 results in a reddish-brown color on the PR glaze surface. Many micro-scale branched metastable phase ε-Fe2O3 crystals were detected in the glaze cross-sections of all samples, the brown stripes on the HF glaze surface, and the PR glaze surface. Meanwhile, several hematite crystals (α-Fe2O3) were found in both brown stripes of HF glaze and PR glaze surfaces. From this, it can be inferred that -the combined coloring of ε-Fe2O3 and hematite colors is brown HF and PR glaze. In addition, quartz, zircon, pseudobrookite, and rutile crystals were detected in the Jian glazes. The chemical composition of the three bodies is similar, with the main phases being quartz, quartz, and mullite. A small amount of hematite was also found in some HF samples. This article uses various spectroscopic techniques such as X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), micro confocal Raman spectroscopy (μ-RS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and spectrophotometer combined with an ultra depth of field microscope (OM) to efficiently and accurately analyze the microstructure, chemical and mineral composition of Jian wares. This work also provides a theoretical basis for revealing the differences in raw materials and preparation processes of Jian black glaze, HF glaze, and PR glaze and provides certain reference significance for the study of similar ancient ceramics.

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    WANG Tian, YANG Shao-xiong, XIA Sen-wei, WANG Fen, WANG Ying, SUN Jian-xing, SUN Li, LI Qiang, LUO Hong-jie, ZHU Jian-feng. Research on the Chemical and Mineral Composition of Jian Wares in the Song Dynasty Using Multiple Spectroscopic Techniques[J]. Spectroscopy and Spectral Analysis, 2025, 45(2): 448

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    Paper Information

    Received: Jul. 23, 2024

    Accepted: May. 21, 2025

    Published Online: May. 21, 2025

    The Author Email:

    DOI:10.3964/j.issn.1000-0593(2025)02-0448-08

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