HeRan Kiln: The Obsessive Pursuit of Raw Under-Glazed Red Porcelain 和然窑：坚持制作原矿釉里红的窑口

HeRan Kiln is a traditional kiln in Jingdezhen, co-founded by Liu Liang and his wife Xu Hongyu. The kiln owner, Liu Liang, comes from a family with three generations of porcelain-making lineage and is now a bearer of the Chinese intangible cultural heritage of Jingdezhen's handmade porcelain technique (ash glaze) as well as a national first-class kiln engineer. Xu Hongyu, from a prestigious porcelain-making family, is well-versed in underglaze blue and red glaze painting; her ancestors were involved in managing the official kiln "Xu Jia Kiln" during the late Qing Dynasty and established their porcelain workshop during the Republic of China, which later merged into “the People's Porcelain Factory.”

Initially, HeRan Kiln, like many other kilns, underwent a grueling twenty-year period of refinement. In 2002, Liu Liang and his wife founded "Liang Yu Tang," the precursor to HeRan Kiln, focusing both on porcelain craftsmanship and market operations. However, it soon became apparent that focusing primarily on pottery research made it difficult to manage daily operations, whereas concentrating on business, despite providing short-term financial returns, could jeopardize future brand stability due to inconsistent quality. Thus, Liu decided to strategically retreat; in 2008, he accepted an outsourcing collaboration with a major tea merchant to produce porcelain for tea brands. This not only provided a stable income but also allowed him to continually refine and improve his porcelain techniques. For ten years, Liu dedicated himself to producing superior porcelain and researching ancient pottery techniques, personally documenting the temperature curve of every kiln load. By 2019, he decided to return to prominence and officially established HeRan Kiln.

Core Competencies

1. Striking Raw Under-Glaze Red Porcelain

Despite the growing popularity of under-glaze red tea utensils in Jingdezhen, few kilns can successfully produce raw under-glazed Red porcelain due to low yield and color inconsistency, even though advanced contemporary porcelain techniques still yield only a 50% success rate. Unlike other blue and white porcelains, flaws in raw under-glaze Red pieces are irreparable, whereas those with stabilizers can achieve a 70%-80% yield rate and allow for corrections. HeRan Kiln continually challenges the higher difficulty of wood-fired under-glazed red porcelain with its superb techniques.

釉里红发色之一：红包翠 One of the colors of Under-Glaze Red: Red with Green 

2. Tea Vessels that Enhance Flavor 

The concept of tea vessels enhancing tea flavor has been a long-debated topic in Chinese tea history. Liu Liang discovered through this "folk legend" that Qing Dynasty, Yongzheng period, official kilns could indeed improve tea taste. He thus focused extensive research on both materials and firing techniques, launching the "ZhenWei Series," which can reduce bitterness and astringency in tea.

和然珍味系列 “ZhenWei” Series

Challenges

1. Instability of Raw Under-Glaze Red porcelain Quality 

The inherent low yield and color variation preclude mass production, with each firing resulting in different color outcomes, even for identical designs. 

2. Opportunities for Improvement in Painting Techniques

The inherent instability of Raw Under-Glaze Red porcelain makes it difficult to control designs after high-temperature firing. Liu Liang expresses a preference for the naturally flowing Ming Dynasty style of broad strokes, maintaining a reserved stance on meticulous, refined styles. This positions HeRan Kiln with a distinctive growth strategy that prioritizes materials and firing control over painting techniques, contrasting with other kilns.

釉里红茶具搭配 Under-Glazed Red Teaware Pairing

In summary, HeRan Kiln is a kiln underestimated but possessing high potential, exemplifying gradual development rather than instant perfection. In an era where many brands choose to conform to market trends, HeRan Kiln persists in maintaining its original intention, making its products worth exploring.

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