Celadon

Celadon has a very fascinating history. It appeared in China in the Eastern Han period or perhaps even earlier. But definitely by the Eastern Han period (25-220 CE), Chinese were producing celadon pottery. Though, this type of celadon is certainly not the same as that of today. In the Eastern Jin dynasty (265-316 CE), we see celadon wares with typical celadon characteristics, like the crackle-ware glaze. And by the Eastern Jin period, celadon wares were already well developed. In later years, many teawares were made from celadon. Eventually, celadon spread to Korea during the Koryo Dynasty (918-1392 CE). Perhaps during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 CE), tea along with celadon teawares made their spread into Korea; and Koreans adopted the custom of producing celadon and drinking tea. With tea drinking, there comes the inevitable development of teaware and pottery techniques.

Celadon in Chinese is called "qing ci" - 青瓷. It literally means "light-green porcelain". So today, we know celadon as being a light-green porcelain. But in the past, celadon was not necessarily green in color. Some of the Jin Dynasty wares look more like a light, earthy yellow color.