Song and Yuan: the classic age of porcelain

Simple forms and sublime glazes, and the first blue-and-white porcelain.

Under the Song dynasty ceramics were made with simple forms and deep, even glazes: celadon from Longquan, white Ding ware and the pale blue Ru vessels. They count among the world's finest ceramics and have influenced potters everywhere.

Under the Yuan dynasty potters in Jingdezhen began painting with cobalt from Persia under the glaze, and blue-and-white porcelain was born. China also developed printing with movable type, by Bi Sheng in the 1040s.