About the Artist

Liu Zilong 刘子龙 is a
contemporary Chinese ceramic artist born in 1984 in
Nanping, Fujian Province. His work is associated with
the revival of Chayang kiln ceramics and the continued
development of traditional black-glazed tea bowls.

Drawing upon the ceramic heritage of northern Fujian,
Liu explores the relationship between traditional
vessel forms, iron-bearing glazes, kiln atmosphere,
and the unpredictable transformations that occur
during firing.

His ceramic practice brings together elements
associated with the historic Chayang and Shuiji
traditions while embracing contemporary approaches
to glaze development and visual expression.
His works range from subdued black-glazed pieces
to intensely reflective surfaces displaying silver,
blue, and multicolored effects.

Liu has received recognition through ceramics
exhibitions and craft competitions in China.
His work has also attracted international attention,
particularly for his exploration of yohen-style
Tenmoku glazing.

Chayang Kiln Heritage

Chayang Kiln 茶洋窑 is a historic
ceramic-producing center situated near Nanping
in northern Fujian Province. Its origins are
traditionally dated to the middle Northern Song
Dynasty, with particularly significant production
during the Song and Yuan periods.

Unlike kiln centers specializing in a narrower
range of ceramics, Chayang produced black-glazed,
celadon, qingbai, and other wares. Its artisans
drew upon the surrounding ceramic traditions
of Jian, Longquan, Jingdezhen, Jizhou, and
other Chinese kiln systems.

Black-glazed tea bowls were especially important.
Historical examples include rabbit-hair patterns,
tortoiseshell effects, tea-dust glazes, and other
richly varied surfaces.

Although closely related to the development of
Jian-style tea ceramics, Chayang is a distinct
historical kiln site with its own ceramic
characteristics and traditions.

Liu’s contemporary work participates in the
wider effort to preserve, revive, and reinterpret
this important part of Fujian’s ceramic heritage.

Training & Artistic Tradition

Liu’s work reflects the technical traditions of
northern Fujian black-glazed ceramics, particularly
those associated with Chayang Kiln and the
neighboring Jian ware tradition.

His practice emphasizes the exploration of glaze
effects through repeated experimentation with
ceramic materials and firing conditions.
His published work demonstrates an interest in
both historically inspired designs and original
contemporary compositions.

In January 2021, Liu was included in Yanping
District’s fourth group of representative
inheritors for Chayang kiln ceramic-making
techniques, recognizing his connection to
the preservation of this regional craft.

Glazes & Artistic Character

Liu Zilong is particularly associated with
black-glazed tea bowls featuring crystalline
patterns, reflective metallic effects, and
multicolored kiln transformations.

Representative Works

• 玄影 — Mysterious Shadow
  An award-winning ceramic work associated with
  both the 2016 China Arts and Crafts Fine Works
  Exhibition and the Shenzhen International
  Tea Ware Original Design Competition.
  Reported as collected by the Yunnan
  Provincial Museum.
• 黑底银滴 — Black-Ground Silver Drops
  A silver-drop ceramic work reported to have
  received a silver award at the 2016 China
  Arts and Crafts Fine Works Exhibition.
• 七彩曜变毫 — Multicolored Yohen Hare’s-Fur
  A work exploring colorful crystalline
  glaze effects, reported to have received
  a bronze award in the 2020 Hanbo Cup
  Arts and Crafts Creative Design Competition.
• 七彩油滴瓷盏 — Multicolored Oil-Drop Tea Bowl
  A work reported as collected by
  the Nanping Museum.
• 月影 — Moon Shadow
  A work recognized with an excellence award
  in the Shenzhen Golden Phoenix craft
  design competition.

Awards & Professional Recognition

Published biographies and exhibition records
associate Liu Zilong with the following
honors and achievements:

• 2016: Gold Award for
  Mysterious Shadow at the China
  Arts and Crafts Fine Works Exhibition.
• 2016: Silver Award for
  Black-Ground Silver Drops.
• Shenzhen International Tea Ware
  Original Design Competition:
  Silver Award for Mysterious Shadow.
• 2020: Bronze Award for
  Multicolored Yohen Hare’s-Fur
  at the Hanbo Cup competition.
• 2021: Listed as a
  Yanping District representative inheritor
  of Chayang kiln ceramic-making techniques.
• 2025: Donation of a
  contemporary yohen Tenmoku tea bowl to
  the Museum of Oriental Ceramics, Osaka.

His accompanying artist documentation also
lists professional arts-and-crafts honors,
technical qualifications, and involvement
in regional ceramic associations.

Marks, Signatures & Identification

Presentation materials associated with Liu’s
ceramics may include his name in Chinese
calligraphy, a red artist seal, and printed
information concerning his professional
qualifications and Chayang kiln heritage.

The accompanying certificate and packaging
should be considered supporting identification
materials rather than definitive authentication
of an individual ceramic piece.

Identification of a particular work should
take into account the base mark, glaze,
vessel form, and any available
provenance information.

References & Further Reading

Works & Tagged Posts