Wanyao, A Pottery Maker In Jianshui County

Wanyao, A Pottery Maker In Jianshui County

 














Archeological findings show that the purple pottery making of Jianshui County
 of Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture can date back to the late
 Neolithic Period. Pottery wares at that time were mainly moulded on a
 spinning plate.

When it came to Daoguang Period (1821-1850) of the Qing Dynasty 
(1644-1911), potteries of Jianshui had become fine artefacts with profound
 cultural connotations, ranging from tea sets to stationery and wine sets.

There are many a former site of pottery kilns scattering in Wanyao Village,
 which further proves the long-standing history of pottery producing of 
Jianshui County.

In Wanyao Village, most of the pottery workshops are of family scale but
 with many senior, adept artisans whose works have been exhibited on 
varied exhibitions　since 1914. Nowadays, potteries made by these 
 workshops have become gifts or specialties preferred by many from both
 China and abroad.

During his state visit to Albania in 1963, the late China's Prime Minister 
Mr Zhou Enlai (1898-1976) chose Jianshui-made unglazed pottery as a 
Chinese gift.

Jianshui potteries, which have become distinctive tourist souvenirs, are 
now bearing a bright prospect. And as a whole, the pottery making
 has been listed as one of the five major cultural sectors of Jianshui
 County.

Tips:
Wanyao Village is about 2 km from Lin’an Town where the county seat
 of Jianshui is.