Mao Xingbao (毛行宝)

Mao Xingbao (毛行宝) is a ceramic artist associated with the Da Nankeng Kiln (大南坑窑) tradition in Jiangle County, Fujian Province. He is recognized as a 10th generation inheritor of this regional kiln lineage and represents a continuation of traditional ceramic firing techniques alongside contemporary artistic development.

Background & Lineage

Da Nankeng Kiln is a historically recognized ceramic site in Fujian, with a multi-generation lineage passed down through families of craftsmen. Mao Xingbao is identified within this lineage as a representative inheritor, continuing traditional kiln practices including dragon kiln firing and ceramic production techniques.

References:
Baidu Baike (search: 大南坑窑)
Dragon Kiln – Wikipedia

Professional Titles

Mao Xingbao holds recognized professional titles within the Chinese arts and crafts system:

– 中级工艺美术师 (Intermediate Arts & Crafts Artist)
– 三明市工艺美术师 (Sanming City Arts & Crafts Artist)

These titles indicate formal recognition of skill and professional standing within regional craft institutions.

Awards & Recognition

Mao Xingbao has received multiple awards in ceramic art and craft competitions, including:

– “中匠杯” (China Craftsman Cup) – Bronze Award
– 海峡工艺精品奖 – Silver Award
– 争艳杯 – Silver Award
– 中国工艺美术“百花奖” – Excellence Award (2015)
– 中国工艺美术“百花奖” – Silver Award (2016)

References:
Chinese Ceramics – Overview
China Online Museum – Ceramics

Artistic Style

Mao Xingbao’s work reflects the broader artistic range of the Da Nankeng kiln tradition. His pieces include:

Glaze-Based Works:
– Dark-glazed bowls with crystalline or oil-spot-like effects
– Kiln-driven surfaces influenced by firing atmosphere

Decorative & Carved Works:
– Hand-carved porcelain pieces
– Relief carving and figurative design
– Qingbai-style carved cup sets

This dual approach reflects a combination of traditional kiln techniques and broader ceramic artistry.

Relationship to Jianzhan

Although some of Mao Xingbao’s glaze-based works may visually resemble Jianzhan due to dark glazes and crystalline effects, his work belongs to the Da Nankeng kiln tradition and not the Jian kiln (建窑) system.

Jianzhan (建盏) is a specific historical ceramic category tied to Jianyang, defined by high-iron clay and glaze-driven tea bowl traditions.

References:
Jian Ware – Wikipedia
Met Museum – Jian Ware

Technique & Kiln Practice

Da Nankeng kiln tradition includes the use of dragon kilns (龙窑), a traditional wood-firing method used across multiple regions in China. This firing technique allows for natural variation in glaze surfaces and is an important part of the kiln’s heritage recognition.

However, unlike Jianzhan, which is strongly centered on glaze outcomes, Mao Xingbao’s work demonstrates a wider artistic scope that includes both kiln effects and controlled decorative craftsmanship.

Significance

Mao Xingbao represents a continuation of a regional Fujian ceramic lineage that combines traditional firing techniques with modern artistic expression. His work highlights how kiln traditions outside of Jian kiln can produce visually striking ceramics while maintaining their own distinct identity.

Understanding artists like Mao Xingbao helps collectors recognize that not all dark-glazed or crystalline ceramics from Fujian are Jianzhan, and that multiple kiln traditions exist with their own history and artistic direction.