Punch: From third-rate anchor to top chef

Chapter 1792

Lin Yifei also said with anticipation: "Not only can I see the production of porcelain, but I can also feel the local ceramic cultural atmosphere. This trip will definitely be fruitful."

After a simple breakfast, the three of them set off on their journey to Jingdezhen. Along the way, the scenery outside the car window passed by quickly like a painting, and their hearts had already flown to Jingdezhen.

After arriving in Jingdezhen, they went straight to the Ancient Kiln Folk Customs Expo Area. As soon as they entered the scenic area, it was as if they had traveled through time and space and returned to the ancient world of ceramics. The air was filled with the smell of soil and fireworks, and the sound of porcelain making came to their ears, making people feel the unique charm of this thousand-year-old porcelain capital.

The first thing that comes into view is a magnificent Zhen Kiln, which lies there quietly like a sleeping dragon. Zhen Kiln is the only relic of the egg-shaped kiln in the Qing Dynasty and the only traditional large egg-shaped wood-fired kiln in the world. It is about 15-20 meters long, with a volume of about 300 cubic meters and a height of about 6 meters. It is known as the "treasure of the museum". The kiln room adopts a through-beam wooden frame building, and pine wood is used as fuel for smelting, so it is also called a "wood kiln". From loading the kiln to firing the kiln, to cooling and opening the kiln, the whole process takes a month, which is very sophisticated.

"This town kiln is so spectacular! I can't imagine how the ancients built and used it to fire porcelain." Li Xiao exclaimed, his eyes full of shock.

Zhang Yuedong couldn't help but sigh: "Yes, this is not only a kiln, but also the crystallization of the wisdom of the ancient working people."

Lin Yifei introduced: "Zhen Kiln plays an important role in the development history of Jingdezhen ceramics. The porcelain fired there is of extremely high quality and represents the highest level at that time."

Next, they came to the Song Dynasty dragon kiln. The dragon kiln was built according to the slope of the mountain and its shape resembles a dragon, hence its name. The dragon kiln has a relatively simple structure, consisting of three parts: the kiln head, the kiln bed, and the kiln tail. It generally uses straw and branches as fuel, has a low cost, a large firing capacity, and can make full use of the terrain advantages of the natural hillside to make the flame draw strong, which can form a reducing atmosphere for firing celadon and shadow blue porcelain, making an outstanding contribution to the prosperity of the Song Dynasty porcelain industry in Jingdezhen.

"Wow, the design of this dragon kiln is really ingenious. It uses the natural terrain to produce exquisite porcelain." Zhang Yuedong exclaimed.

Li Xiao nodded in agreement: "The creativity of the ancients was truly endless. They were able to create such advanced porcelain-making technology under such conditions."

Lin Yifei added: "The emergence of the dragon kiln promoted the development of Jingdezhen's ceramic industry, greatly improving the output and quality of porcelain."

Afterwards, they visited ancient kilns from different periods, such as the Mantou Kiln of the Yuan Dynasty and the Hulu Kiln of the Ming Dynasty. Each ancient kiln has a unique shape and structure, carrying the ceramic culture of different historical periods.

During the visit, they also watched the whole process of porcelain making. Starting from the clay preparation, the porcelain masters first took porcelain stones from the mining area, broke them into egg-sized blocks with hammers, and then used water pestles to pound them into powder. After washing, removing impurities, and settling, they made brick-shaped mud blocks. Then they used water to mix the mud blocks, removed the slag, rubbed them with their hands or stepped on them with their feet to squeeze out the air in the mud balls and make the water in the mud uniform. This seemingly simple clay preparation process requires the masters to have rich experience and superb skills to ensure the quality of the clay.

The next step is throwing the clay ball into the center of the turntable of the windlass, and with the bending, stretching, contraction and relaxation of the hands, the rough shape of the blank is quickly pulled out. The hands of the masters are like magic, and soon, a blank with a rough shape appears before their eyes.

"This wheel throwing technique is amazing, the master's hands are so steady!" Li Xiao couldn't help but applaud the master's superb skills.

Zhang Yuedong also praised: "Yes, it feels like these clay balls have life in the hands of the master, changing shape at will."

Lin Yifei smiled and said: "This level requires years of practice to achieve. Every step is full of the hard work of the porcelain maker."

The process of printing the blank also opened their eyes. The shape of the printing mold is made by turning according to the arc of the blank's inner shape. The masters put the semi-dried blank on the mold, evenly press the outer wall of the blank, and then demould it to make the shape of the blank more regular.

Sharpening the blank is a process that requires high technical requirements. The masters put the blank on the sharp barrel of the windlass, turn the wheel, and use a knife to cut it to make the blank of appropriate thickness and smooth inside and outside. The masters' focused expressions and skillful movements made them deeply appreciate the delicacy and rigor of porcelain making technology.

Each step of the drying, carving, glazing and other processes has strict requirements and unique skills. After careful production of each process, the ordinary clay ball gradually becomes a piece of exquisite porcelain.

"I didn't expect that a small piece of porcelain would require so many processes to complete. It's really not easy." Li Xiao said with emotion.

Zhang Yuedong also feels the same way: "Yes, these porcelain-making masters are amazing. They use their own hands to pass on the thousand-year-old ceramic culture."

Lin Yifei said: "This is the spirit of craftsmanship, the persistent pursuit of skills and the adherence to traditional culture, which is worth learning for each of us."

After visiting the porcelain production process, they came to the ceramic folk display area. There are twelve ancient buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties, which are antique and full of charm. The buildings display a rich ceramic folk display, allowing them to understand the ceramic history, folk customs and the important position of ceramics in people's lives in Jingdezhen.

At the Tianhou Temple, they felt the local people's reverence for Mazu. The Tianhou Temple has a unique architectural style, with carved beams and painted buildings, and is magnificent. As the protector of the sea, Mazu also plays an important role in Jingdezhen's ceramic trade, blessing the safe travel of merchant ships.

The Porcelain Stele Gallery displays many poems and calligraphy works related to ceramics. These works not only have artistic value, but also reflect the praise and love of Jingdezhen ceramics by literati and poets of all dynasties. They strolled in the gallery, admiring these precious cultural heritages, as if they were having a dialogue across time and space with the ancients. Then, they came to the creative leisure area of ​​Shui'an Qianjie. It is full of modern art, and various creative leisure landscapes of porcelain culture are eye-catching. Changnan Porcelain, Changnan Wharf and other attractions perfectly integrate ceramic culture with modern creativity, showing the innovation and development of Jingdezhen ceramic culture.

In the scenic area, they also watched wonderful porcelain music performances. The performers of the porcelain orchestra played melodious music with porcelain plates, porcelain flutes, porcelain chimes and other porcelain instruments. These porcelain instruments are made of porcelain clay according to professional musical instrument technical requirements. The music played is transparent, ethereal, unique and intoxicating.

"This porcelain music is so magical. I didn't expect porcelain could make such wonderful sounds." Li Xiao said excitedly.

Zhang Yuedong also praised it highly: "Yes, this is really an auditory feast, which gives us a deeper understanding of ceramic culture."

Lin Yifei smiled and said: "This is the charm of Jingdezhen's ceramic culture. It is not only reflected in the production of porcelain, but also extends to many fields such as music and art."

After visiting the Ancient Kiln Folk Customs Expo Area, their stomachs were already growling. So they decided to try the special food of Jingdezhen. On the recommendation of local residents, they came to an inconspicuous little restaurant. The restaurant was filled with rich aromas, and the diners ate with gusto.

They ordered several signature dishes of Jingdezhen, including alkaline cake, cold noodles, and chicken stewed in porcelain clay. Soon, the dishes were served one after another. The first one to come up was the alkaline cake, which was golden in color and exuded a faint alkaline fragrance. Li Xiao took a bite and found it smooth and chewy. It tasted very delicious when paired with shredded meat, green vegetables and other side dishes. "This alkaline cake is really delicious, and it's different from anything I've eaten before." He praised it highly.

Next, it was the cold noodles. The cold noodles in Jingdezhen are moderately thick and tough. They are topped with a special sauce, peanuts, diced radish, chopped green onions and other condiments. After mixing evenly, they taste spicy and delicious, leaving a lasting aftertaste. Zhang Yuedong said as he ate, "This cold noodles is just right for my taste. It's so spicy!"

The last dish served was the chicken stewed in porcelain clay. This dish uses local chickens, wrapped in Jingdezhen's unique porcelain clay, and slowly stewed in a kiln. The chicken is tender and juicy, fragrant, and has a light earthy fragrance. Lin Yifei picked up a piece of chicken and put it in his mouth, savoring it carefully, with a satisfied smile on his face: "This chicken stewed in porcelain clay is so unique. It's the first time I've eaten such delicious chicken."

The three of them ate with gusto. Soon, all the dishes on the table were swept away. After dinner, they strolled along the streets of Jingdezhen, feeling the unique charm of this city. The shops on both sides of the street were filled with all kinds of porcelain, which were dazzling and dazzling. There were exquisite blue and white porcelain, delicate pastel porcelain, elegant colored glaze porcelain, etc. Each piece of porcelain was a work of art that made people love it.

They walked into a porcelain shop, which had a wide variety of high-quality porcelain. The owner enthusiastically introduced the characteristics and production techniques of various porcelains to them, and they listened with great interest. Based on the owner's recommendation, they selected several pieces of porcelain they liked as souvenirs of this trip.

As they walked, they came to a square where a lively folk performance was being held. On the stage, actors dressed in bright ethnic costumes performed wonderful programs, including dragon and lion dances, acrobatics, operas, etc. The audience watched with great interest, and bursts of applause and cheers from time to time.

The three of them were also attracted and squeezed in the crowd to watch the performance. The dragon and lion dance actors performed with agility and tacit coordination, showing the dragon and lion's demeanor vividly; the acrobats' performances were thrilling and exciting, making people sweat; the opera actors' singing was melodious and full of charm, making people intoxicated.

"This folk performance is really great. It allows us to feel the traditional cultural charm of Jingdezhen." Li Xiao said excitedly.

Zhang Yuedong nodded in agreement: "Yes, these actors are amazing, and every show is so exciting."

Lin Yifei smiled and said: "Today is a really fulfilling day. Not only did I visit the Ancient Kiln Folk Customs Expo Area, taste the food, but I also watched the folk performances. I gained a lot."

After watching the show, they returned to the hotel. Lying on the bed, the three recalled today's experience and were full of expectations for tomorrow's journey. In this charming land of Jiangxi, there are more beautiful scenery, delicious food and culture waiting for them to explore.

The Porcelain Life of Jingdezhen
After visiting the Ancient Kiln Folk Customs Expo Area, their stomachs were already growling. So they decided to try the special food of Jingdezhen. On the recommendation of local residents, they came to an inconspicuous little restaurant. The restaurant was filled with rich aromas, and the diners ate with gusto.

They ordered several signature dishes of Jingdezhen, including alkaline cake, cold noodles, and chicken stewed in porcelain clay. Soon, the dishes were served one after another. The first one to come up was the alkaline cake, which was golden in color and exuded a faint alkaline fragrance. Li Xiao took a bite and found it smooth and chewy. It tasted very delicious when paired with shredded meat, green vegetables and other side dishes. "This alkaline cake is really delicious, and it's different from anything I've eaten before." He praised it highly.

Next, it was the cold noodles. The cold noodles in Jingdezhen are moderately thick and tough. They are topped with a special sauce, peanuts, diced radish, chopped green onions and other condiments. After mixing evenly, they taste spicy and delicious, leaving a lasting aftertaste. Zhang Yuedong said as he ate, "This cold noodles is just right for my taste. It's so spicy!"

The last dish served was the chicken stewed in porcelain clay. This dish uses local chickens, wrapped in Jingdezhen's unique porcelain clay, and slowly stewed in a kiln. The chicken is tender and juicy, fragrant, and has a light earthy fragrance. Lin Yifei picked up a piece of chicken and put it in his mouth, savoring it carefully, with a satisfied smile on his face: "This chicken stewed in porcelain clay is so unique. It's the first time I've eaten such delicious chicken."

The three of them ate with gusto. Soon, all the dishes on the table were swept away. After dinner, they strolled along the streets of Jingdezhen, feeling the unique charm of this city. The shops on both sides of the street were filled with all kinds of porcelain, which were dazzling and dazzling. There were exquisite blue and white porcelain, delicate pastel porcelain, elegant colored glaze porcelain, etc. Each piece of porcelain was a work of art that made people love it.

They walked into a porcelain shop, which had a wide variety of high-quality porcelain. The owner enthusiastically introduced the characteristics and production techniques of various porcelains to them, and they listened with great interest. Based on the owner's recommendation, they selected several pieces of porcelain they liked as souvenirs of this trip.

As they walked, they came to a square where a lively folk performance was being held. On the stage, actors dressed in bright ethnic costumes performed wonderful programs, including dragon and lion dances, acrobatics, operas, etc. The audience watched with great interest, and bursts of applause and cheers from time to time.