Tang Pottery. The strong economy and effective government of the Tang era (618-907), coupled with the Tang dynasty's openness to foreign influences, stimulated the development of porcelain as early as the seventh century or as late as the early ninth century. The kilns of the Yue region produced greenish-colored porcelain well known for its hardness and craftsmanship. Tang porcelain from the kilns of Xing is white and known for its strength and elegant shapes. The Tang San Cai (The Three Colors of Tang), well-known lead glazes developed in the Tang period, allowed the craftsman to decorate porcelain and other ceramics in yellows (ranging to amber and brown), green, and blue. Tang figurines decorated with Tang San Cai are colorful, and their shapes are rounded, natural, and dynamic.

Song and Yuan Porcelain. During the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1279-1368) dynasties, economic growth and the flourishing of...