ZHANG Zhigang , CUO Yenyi

(Shanghai Institute of ceramics, Academic silicon)

Abstract: Changsha Tongguan Kiln was a famous folk kiln of Tang Dynasty. In this kiln area the brown, green and red colored glazed wares and underglazed painted wares were produced in the ancient time. The Tongguan ware bodies are similar to Zhejiang ceiadon bodies and Jin­gdezhen porcelain bodies in chemical composition. High silica and low alumina contents are characteristics of these bodies. The Tongguan ware glaze mainly contains a great amount of CaO as flux, but MgO and K(Na)₂O contents are less than 3%. Otherwise the glazes containing P₂O₆ are also high. All these showed that some wood ashes might be used as the raw materials for making glazes in the ancient time. iron ions in the glazes. A certain amount of SnO₂ exists in the green or red glazes or colors, which might play a role of reduction reagent. The firing temperatures of Tongguan wares are in the range of 1150—1200℃.The brownish red underglaze might be formed by mixing decoration of copper and iron ions as the coloring reagents.

Keywords: Tang Dynasty, raw materials, Changsha Tongguan Kiln