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- both Dutch and Japanese merchants and new styles of porcelain were developed known as Transitional wares. Many of the decorative designs on these wares developed from the non-imperial wares of the late sixteenth century. Much of these robust wares were manufactured for export, specially fine blue and white pieces [1-12]. They are usually strongly built, have the underglaze blue in a deep violet tone, and the beautifuly drawn decorations often display marvellous landscapes with human figures, animals and flowers. This type of porcelain would continue into the succeeding Qing dynasty and last until about 1683, when imperial patronage was restored at Jingdezhen.
A rebellion led by Wu Sangui between 1674 and 1678 virtually destroyed the ceramic centre of Jingdezhen, but shortly afterwards the emperor Kangxi ordered it rebuilt.
Kangxi took a keen personal interest in ceramic production, and in 1683 appointed Cang Yingxuan as the superintendent of the imperial factory at Jingdezhen. It was largely due to Cang that a brilliant renaissance in the ceramic art of China took place. His skill came to be regarded as something supernatural, and it was said of him �When he was at work, it was as if God guided his hand in designing, and protected the porcelain in the kilns from any mishap.� Under this man, the development of the kilns went in two directions. First, in the revival of fine decorative techniques invented and made popular during the Ming dynasty, and second, in the experimentation of new colour glazes.
Cang had a tremendous relationship with the workers. Because of him, former abuses and oppression against workers was brought to an end, working conditions were improved and salaries were increased. From this time onward the workers were well cared for and contented.
Under Cang�s leadership, the workers responded to this new sense of well-being by unleashing a tremendous flood of creative energy. So much so, that many ceramic critics, both Chinese and Western, consider that the ceramic art of China reached its greatest achievements ever in perfection of technique, quality of material, diversity of forms, beauty of design and brilliance of colour, during this period.
By the early eighteenth century the population of Jingdezhen numbered about a million. All the activity and wealth of the city was engaged in the manufacture of porcelain. Cang introduced
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