{"id":2007,"date":"2026-08-01T01:11:03","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T17:11:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zhangruying.com\/en\/?p=2007"},"modified":"2026-07-31T17:06:39","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T09:06:39","slug":"tang-sancai-%e5%94%90%e4%b8%89%e5%bd%a9-the-colorful-ceramics-of-the-tang-dynasty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zhangruying.com\/en\/2007","title":{"rendered":"Tang Sancai \u5510\u4e09\u5f69: The Colorful Ceramics of the Tang Dynasty"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Zhang<\/a><\/p>\n

When people hear the name Tang Sancai (\u5510\u4e09\u5f69), many immediately assume that these ceramics only feature three colors. In fact, that assumption is not entirely correct. The word sancai (\u4e09\u5f69) literally means “three colors,” but the term actually refers to the technique of using multiple glaze colors rather than the number of colors themselves. In addition to the most common yellow, green, and white, Tang Sancai can also feature blue, brown, purple, and even black.<\/p>\n

\"Zhang<\/a>
Photo source: Baike Baidu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tang Sancai (\u5510\u4e09\u5f69 ; t\u00e1ng s\u0101n c\u01cei) is a type of low-fired lead-glazed ceramic that flourished during the Tang dynasty. It developed from the tradition of lead-glazed ceramics of the Han dynasty and became one of the greatest achievements in the history of Chinese ceramic art. Tang Sancai first appeared during the reign of Emperor Gaozong, reached its peak during the Kaiyuan era under Emperor Xuanzong, and gradually declined after the Tianbao era. It also had a significant influence on the development of Song Sancai and Liao Sancai.<\/p>\n

During the firing process, the lead glaze melts and flows, allowing different colors to blend naturally and create rich, layered color gradations that make each piece unique. Because many Tang Sancai works were unearthed in Luoyang, these ceramics are also known as Luoyang Tang Sancai. In 2008, the firing technique of Tang Sancai was officially designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage of China.<\/p>\n

Why Did Tang Sancai Emerge?<\/h4>\n
\"Zhang<\/a>
Photo source: Baike Baidu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The emergence of Tang Sancai was supported by several important factors. First, advances in ceramic technology during the Tang dynasty made it possible to produce high-quality ceramics with increasingly sophisticated glazing techniques. Second, the growing tradition of lavish burials among nobles and government officials created a greater demand for funerary objects. Third, the prosperity of the economy, the flourishing trade along the Silk Road, and the cultural openness of the Tang dynasty encouraged the development of a more colorful, dynamic artistic style influenced by various foreign cultures.<\/p>\n

Most Tang Sancai pieces were made as Mingqi (\u660e\u5668 ; m\u00edng q\u00ec), objects buried with the tomb owner as provisions for the afterlife. Only a small portion was used as architectural decoration or household furnishings.<\/p>\n

How Was Tang Sancai Made?<\/h4>\n

Tang Sancai was made using a two-stage firing process.<\/p>\n

First, the ceramic body was formed from white clay rich in kaolin or porcelain clay, then fired at approximately 1,000\u20131,150\u00b0C to produce an unglazed ceramic body. After that, the surface was coated with colored glaze and fired again at around 800\u2013900\u00b0C.<\/p>\n

Because the glaze contains lead as a flux with a relatively low melting point, the glaze melts, flows, penetrates, and blends together during the second firing. This process creates a surface where the colors appear to flow naturally, producing rich patterns that are never the same from one piece to another.<\/p>\n

In general, the production process consists of six stages:<\/p>\n

a. Material Selection (\u9009\u6599 ; xu\u01cen li\u00e0o)<\/strong>
\nHigh-quality clay or porcelain clay is selected, cleaned of impurities, and processed into a fine material.<\/p>\n

b. Forming the Ceramic Body (\u6210\u578b ; ch\u00e9ng x\u00edng)<\/strong>
\nThe body is shaped using wheel throwing, molding, or hand modeling, and then left to dry.<\/p>\n

c. First Firing (\u7d20\u70e7 ; s\u00f9 sh\u0101o)<\/strong>
\nThe ceramic body is fired to produce an unglazed ceramic body.<\/p>\n

d. Glazing (\u6302\u91c9 ; gu\u00e0 y\u00f2u)<\/strong>
\nThe surface of the ceramic is coated with the prepared colored glazes.<\/p>\n

e. Glaze Firing (\u4f4e\u6e29\u91c9\u70e7 ; d\u012b w\u0113n y\u00f2u sh\u0101o)<\/strong>
\nThe ceramic is fired again so that the glaze melts and forms the distinctive colored surface of Tang Sancai.<\/p>\n

f. Final Finishing (\u5f00\u76f8 ; k\u0101i xi\u0101ng)<\/strong>
\nOn human figures or sculptures, the unglazed parts of the head receive the finishing touches, such as coloring the lips with red pigment and painting the eyebrows, eyes, beard, and hair with ink to enhance the figure’s expression.<\/p>\n

The Uniqueness of Its Glazing Technique<\/h4>\n

The uniqueness of Tang Sancai lies in its glazing technique. The glaze was made from a mixture of minerals containing iron, copper, cobalt, and manganese as coloring agents, while lead served as a flux and also gave the surface its glossy finish.<\/p>\n

These metal oxides produced a variety of colors, including yellow, green, white, blue, brown, purple, and black.<\/p>\n

Forms and Functions<\/h4>\n
\"Zhang<\/a>
Photo source: Baike Baidu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Zhang<\/a>
Photo source: Baike Baidu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Zhang<\/a>
Photo source: Baike Baidu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tang Sancai was produced in a wide variety of forms. Its main categories include:<\/p>\n