Xu Guoqing 徐国清
Jian Zhan Artist · Jianyang, Fujian
Guoqing Jian Zhan 国清建盏 · Oil Spot 油滴 · Colorful Kiln Transformations
Artist Information
Chinese Name: 徐国清
Born: 1977
Birthplace:
Guiyuan Village, Xiaohu Town, Jianyang District, Nanping, Fujian
Studio:
Guoqing Jian Zhan 国清建盏
Associated Kiln:
Xu Guoqing Dragon Kiln 徐国清龙窑
Known Works:
Deep Sea 深海, Blue Smurf 蓝精灵, Red Sun 红日,
Sparrow Feather 雀翎, Hongyao 虹曜 and Oil Spot works
About Xu Guoqing
Xu Guoqing is a contemporary Jian Zhan artist from Jianyang,
Fujian. Artist biographical material records that he was born
in 1977 in Guiyuan Village, Xiaohu Town.
His connection with Jian ware began early. His aunt lived in
Chizhong Village in Shuiji Town, close to the historic Jian kiln
area. As a child, he frequently visited the area and searched
hillsides for fragments of old Jian ware.
The artist’s biography describes him examining and studying
these fragments and gradually developing a fascination with
Jian Zhan. His interest in ceramics eventually led him to begin
researching Jian Zhan forming, glaze and firing techniques.
Today his work is especially recognizable for strongly defined
crystalline patterns and unusually vivid color. Blue, violet,
silver, gold, red and multicolored surfaces appear throughout
his body of work.
From Jian Kiln Shards to Jian Zhan
Shuiji Town contains the historic kiln landscape associated with
Song dynasty Jian ware. Xu Guoqing’s biographical material places
part of his childhood experience directly within this landscape.
Rather than encountering Jian ware only as finished modern tea
bowls, he describes collecting broken historical fragments from
the hills near Chizhong Village and studying their surfaces.
That background provides useful context for an artist whose later
work became heavily focused on glaze development and the visual
possibilities created during firing.
Glazes & Visual Style
Xu Guoqing’s work spans several interpretations of Jian Zhan,
but highly visible crystalline development is one of the strongest
recurring characteristics.
Oil Spot 油滴
Distinct crystalline spots develop across darker glaze
backgrounds, ranging from small dense patterns to large,
strongly separated crystals.
Deep Sea 深海
A blue-centered family of works associated with deep cobalt
and violet tones and clearly defined crystalline spotting.
Blue Smurf 蓝精灵
One of Xu Guoqing’s repeatedly documented blue glaze series,
appearing in several bowl forms and sizes.
Red Sun 红日
A warmer glaze family using red and copper-like tones around
contrasting darker centers and crystalline effects.
Sparrow Feather 雀翎
A named series documented in modern Chinese Jian Zhan catalogs,
combining oil-spot-like crystallization with feathered color.
Hongyao 虹曜
A strongly iridescent glaze associated with halo-like optical
effects and changing color under directional light.
Materials & Firing
Xu Guoqing’s biographical material describes the use of natural
mineral glaze and emphasizes the natural variation created during
firing.
His documented work is not limited to one firing method.
Collector examples associated with Xu Guoqing include pieces
identified as electric-fired as well as work associated with
dragon-kiln wood firing.
His artist material also includes photographs of the
Xu Guoqing Dragon Kiln 徐国清龙窑.
Because different works may use different firing approaches,
firing method is best recorded with the individual piece whenever
documentation is available.
Xu Guoqing Dragon Kiln 徐国清龙窑
Artist biographical material showing the Xu Guoqing Dragon Kiln
and a chronology of honors.
2018 Minyi Cup
In September 2018, Xu Guoqing’s work
《和尚点》
received a Bronze Award in the Jian Zhan
category of the Third Fujian Province Minyi Cup Ceramic Art
Creative Design Competition.
The result is listed in the official award announcement published
by the Fujian Ceramic Industry Association.
Additional Artist Record
Xu Guoqing’s published biographical material records several
additional events during 2018 and 2020.
April 2018
Guoqing Jian Zhan Ceramic Studio is recorded as receiving
a preferred-brand recognition connected with the Jian Zhan
industry.
September 2018
His artist biography records a Blue Smurf 蓝精灵 piece being
donated for a Jianyang Jian Zhan charity auction, with proceeds
directed toward Jian Zhan cultural promotion and charitable
activity.
October 2018
Artist materials record recognition at the China Jingdezhen
International Ceramics Expo in an exhibition described as
“China’s Top Ten Famous Kilns.”
November 2018
The biography records a work titled
Blue Enchantress 蓝色妖姬
being donated to the Nanjing China Imperial Examination Museum.
2020
His published artist record lists occupational skill
evaluations connected with ceramic decoration, ceramic firing
and ceramic raw-material preparation.
These additional entries are preserved from artist biographical
material. Where an independent institutional record has not yet
been located, they are identified as biographical claims rather
than presented as independently verified awards.
Maker’s Mark
Documented examples attributed to Xu Guoqing show his name
impressed or carved into the base.
Xu Guoqing Gallery
Jian Zhan pieces and collector posts associated with Xu Guoqing.
Sources & Research Notes
Biographical information is based on artist materials preserved
with documented Xu Guoqing works and has been compared with
independent Chinese ceramic-industry and Jian Zhan sources.
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Xu Guoqing artist biographical material
Records his Chinese name 徐国清, 1977 birth, childhood connection
with the Jian kiln area, studio history, dragon kiln and
personal chronology.
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Fujian Ceramic Industry Association
Official 2018 Third Minyi Cup results confirming Xu Guoqing
and 《和尚点》 in the Jian Zhan Bronze Award category.
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Guanfu Jian Zhan artist catalog
Documents numerous Xu Guoqing works including Deep Sea,
Red Sun, Blue Smurf, Oil Spot and other named glaze series.
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Chinese retail catalog records
Contemporary records independently associate 徐国清 with
Deep Sea, Blue Smurf and Sparrow Feather Jian Zhan.
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Jian Zhan Xianzi archive
Documents Xu Guoqing’s Hongyao 虹曜 glaze as part of his
contemporary body of work.