An ancient kiln with a history of over 600 years in China's "porcelain capital", Jingdezhen, was reignited for the first time this year on Saturday. A rekindling ceremony was held as part of the sideline events of the 2024 Jingdezhen International Ceramic Expo which kicked off a day earlier.
A total of 1,500 pieces of porcelain were loaded into the ancient Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) gourd kiln in the eastern province of Jiangxi. Following a continuous 24-hour burning process and a further 24 hours of natural cooling, the kiln will be opened on Monday.
The gourd kiln is the shortened form of the gourd-shaped firewood kiln. It first appeared at the end of Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and in the early Ming Dynasty, which had been winded down until the emergence of egg-shaped kiln in early Qing Dynasty(1644-1911).
Hu Jiawang, an inheritor of Jingdezhen's traditional ceramic workshop skills, expressed his hope that this rekindling of the gourd kiln will serve to preserve the kiln's thousand-year legacy, offering insight into the evolution of Jingdezhen's kiln technology and the rich history of ceramic production.
The porcelain crafted in the gourd kiln, once pivotal in China's ceramic exports over 600 years ago, stands as a testament to the region's enduring contribution to global ceramics. The aim is to ensure the continuity of this heritage for generations to come, said Hu.
Since 2009, Jingdezhen has been pursuing a program of kiln restoration and rekindling to preserve the essence of Chinese civilization. Over the past decade, restoration efforts have breathed new life into the ancient kilns of bygone eras.
The China Jingdezhen International Ceramic Expo, first held in 2004 and formerly the China Jingdezhen International Ceramic Fair, has become a significant platform to showcase the world's finest porcelain.
Over the past 20 years, the event has drawn around 2,500 overseas enterprises from 49 countries and regions, according to the organizers.
Jingdezhen's historic gourd Kiln rekindled for first time in 2024
At least Four civilians were killed and several university students injured on Friday as the rebel groups fired shells at a dormitory complex in Aleppo city in northern Syria, state news agency SANA reported.
Amid the worsening situation in Aleppo, Chinese journalists are forced to evacuate to Damascus, the capital city of Syria.
The shelling marks one of the deadliest attacks in recent months on the area as ultra-radical groups launched a large-scale offensive on military sites in Aleppo's western countryside starting from Wednesday.
In response, the Syrian government forces intensified military operations with sustained artillery and missile strikes, bolstered by air power on militant positions along the western countryside of Aleppo, according to pro-government Sham FM radio.
Due to security concerns, the Syrian military has temporarily blocked the highway from Aleppo to Damascus.
For the sake of safety, the government military requested the journalists of the China Media Group (CMG) to evacuate from Aleppo and return to Damascus.
As the main road, the M5 highway that connects Aleppo and Damascus, was cut off by artillery fire, the journalists had to choose to drive through the deserts of central Syria under the guidance of the government military, bypassing Idlib, which doubled the journey's length.
"We are currently driving through the desolate deserts of Hama Province in Syria. The road conditions are poor, but this route serves as the sole connection between Damascus and Aleppo. There is sparse traffic along this road, mostly Syrian government military vehicles traveling from Damascus to Aleppo," said one of the journalist.
"This road, as you can see, has large way of desert. There are no places to rest. It's a very long road, no people crossing. It is rarely used recently actually, but we didn't have any other choice if we want to keep us (safe)," said Haifa, a Syrian media professional.
According to state news agency SANA, Syrian Foreign Minister Bassam Sabbagh held a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Friday to discuss the situation in Aleppo.
Sabbagh said that the attacks by the opposition armed groups on Aleppo are within the framework of the Western support for Israel.
Araghchi described the resurgence of terrorist activities in Syria as part of the plans of the United States and Israel.
He reaffirmed Iran's commitment to supporting the Syria's government, people, and military in their fight against terrorism and in safeguarding regional security and stability.
Rebel groups' attack on Syrian city of Aleppo kills four civilians, forces evacuation of Chinese journalists
