Yaoshen Culture (Hua Porcelain)

Quncheng Wang, from Lushan County, Henan Province, is a National Senior Arts and Crafts (Ceramics) Master, Level-1 Senior Technician, Senior Engineer, founder of the Lushan Hua Porcelain Heritage Base, and a leading figure in both the Lushan Hua porcelain and Central Plains ceramics industries. An inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of Lushan Hua porcelain making, he devoted himself to ceramics from a young age and began working to revive the nearly lost Tang-dynasty Hua porcelain tradition after leaving the military in 1982. After 30 years of relentless effort he overcame a series of technical challenges and in 2012 established the Henan Yaoshen Cultural Communications Lushan Hua Porcelain Heritage Base. The studio has since reproduced over 300 traditional forms, created more than 200 original designs, and developed over 100 types of everyday porcelain — tea sets, tableware, wine vessels, and stationery. The company has been named an “Outstanding Enterprise of the Central Plains Ceramics Industry,” and its Yaoshen Ancient Kiln has been designated a “Renowned Kiln of the Central Plains.” Its products have been awarded the title “Top Ten Central Plains Tribute Wares,” and its pieces have won numerous national and international prizes. Wang’s academic papers A Brief Analysis of the Artistic Characteristics of Lushan Hua Porcelain and On the Perfect Integration of Lushan Hua Porcelain’s Traditional Techniques and Modern Aesthetics have been published in the journal Chinese Ceramics.

Imperial Court Drum (Hua Gu)

Dimensions: 49 × 20 cm. The Hua drum — known in the Tang dynasty as the jie drum, and also called the waist drum or clapping drum — is an ancient percussion instrument and one of the most celebrated forms of Lushan Hua porcelain, once presented as tribute to the Tang imperial court. This “Imperial Court Drum” by Yaoshen draws inspiration from Chinese dragon culture: while preserving the techniques of the original Tang-dynasty court drum, it adds relief-carved dragons and phoenixes, embodying the spirit of the Chinese dragon. Dragons and phoenixes herald good fortune; wind and rain arrive in season; heaven, earth, and humanity are in harmony; and peace prevails across the four seas. This national-treasure-calibre piece elevates the art form to new heights, achieving a masterful union of heritage and innovation, bold power and exquisite beauty.