The Master of Imperial Porcelain
Tang Ying was a prominent Qing dynasty writer, playwright, and ceramist who served as the Superintendent of the Imperial porcelain works in Jingdezhen. During his twenty-eight years of service under two emperors, he oversaw the production of some of the finest porcelain of the Qing dynasty, a period of craftsmanship often referred to as Tangyao or Tang ware. His deep understanding of the potting process allowed him to communicate the specific desires of the Emperor to the workmen, ensuring the production of exquisite wares. He was known for introducing technical innovations, such as new glazes in shades of purple and blue, as well as techniques like silvering and painting in ink black. His ability to mimic the textures of wood, jade, bronze, or silver in porcelain was highly regarded, as was his skill in reviving antique forms from the Song era.
A Polymath of the Qing Dynasty
Beyond his mastery of ceramics, Tang Ying was a prolific writer and dramatist. He composed seventeen plays, often blending Kunqu opera melodies with local styles, including works such as Crossroad at the Slope and Laughter in a Flour Barrel. His literary contributions extended to technical treatises on porcelain production, such as The Order of Porcelain-making, which was written at the command of the Qianlong Emperor. Additionally, Tang Ying was a poet and an accomplished practitioner of calligraphy and painting, with his artistic works held within the Palace Museum collection.
