The existence of pottery was a hallmark of the Neolithic Age in primitive society.
Pottery shards of more than 10,000 years ago were discovered in the Fairy Cave site in Lishui County of East China's Jiangsu Province, and shards of sandy red pottery dating back 10,000 years ago were found in the Nanzhuang Culture site in Xushui County of North China's Hebei Province.
The site of the Peiligang Culture in Xinzheng of Central China's Henan Province and the site of the Cishan Culture in Wu'an of Hebei Province are early Neolithic sites found in northern China, dating as far back as 7,900 years ago.
The site of the Hemudu Culture in Yuyao County of East China's Zhejiang Province is another early Neolithic site that flourished 7,000 years ago. Grey pottery, red pottery, charcoal-mixed black pottery, and even an occasional piece of painted pottery were found at all these ancient sites.
The site of the Yangshao Culture at Yangshao Village in Mian County of Henan Province, and at Banpo Village in Xi'an of North China's Shaanxi Province, inhabited by people who lived in prosperity in a matriarchal clan society, are more than 6,000 years old. Large quantities of fine painted pottery were already made at that time.
With the development of the society, the quality of pottery steadily improved.
By the Shang and Zhou dynasties (16th century-221 BC), a clear-cut division of labor had already appeared among potters.
Elegant designs and pictures of flowers and birds were carved on pottery ware during the Warring States Period (475-221BC). Potters in this period introduced lead glaze, which made the surface of pottery smooth and fine and added luster to the vessels.
In the Western Han Dynasty (206BC-24AD) the art of glazing pottery became widespread. Multi-colored glaze was also introduced in the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD).
The renowned Tang Dynasty (618-907) tri-color pottery with lead glaze was the invention of potters who introduced white, yellow, blue, green, brown, and purple glazes and skillfully applied them in combination. The appearance of Tang tri-color glazed pottery marked the entry of pottery art into an era of greater variety and color, which in fact began in the Sui Dynasty (581-618).
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