Cai Bingsheng
蔡炳盛Jian Zhan craftsman & researcher · Fujian provincial representative inheritor
About Cai Bingsheng
Cai Bingsheng (蔡炳盛) was born in January 1956 in Jianyang, Fujian, into a family with a long connection to ceramic work. He is the youngest of the three Cai brothers associated with the modern Jian Zhan tradition of Shuiji.
His working life developed during the revival of Jian ware in the late twentieth century. After gaining practical experience with clay, glaze materials, kiln firing and temperature control, he began sustained independent experimentation with Jian Zhan in 1982.
Over the following decades, Cai became especially known for crystalline black-glaze work, including silver-blue oil spot, while continuing to explore wood firing, hare’s-fur effects and new kiln-transformed surfaces.
The Cai Family & the Modern Revival
Cai Bingsheng is the youngest of Cai Bingkun 蔡炳昆, Cai Binglong 蔡炳龙 and Cai Bingsheng 蔡炳盛, three brothers whose careers became closely tied to the renewed Jian Zhan industry in Jianyang.
Their generation worked during a period when local potters and ceramic researchers were rebuilding the techniques behind historic Jian clay bodies, black glazes and high-temperature firing. Cai Bingsheng carried that revival-era experience into his own long-term research and studio practice.
Glazes & Signature Work
Oil-spot Jian Zhan became one of Cai Bingsheng’s defining areas of work. Years of experimentation with glaze thickness, clay body, kiln atmosphere and temperature led to a wide range of crystalline surfaces.
Research, Teaching & Transmission
Cai Bingsheng’s career extends beyond making individual bowls. He has written about Jian Zhan materials and firing, including the technical paper 《试论建盏的烧制工艺》, and is credited with the book 《建盏技艺》.
He also transmitted his knowledge to younger makers. Jianyang records identify Liao Chengyi 廖成义 as having studied Jian Zhan firing under Cai Bingsheng after returning to Shuiji.
Heritage Status
Cai Bingsheng is officially listed by Fujian Province as a provincial representative inheritor of 建窑建盏烧制技艺, the firing craft of Jian kiln and Jian Zhan.
In the province’s 2024 transmission-activity evaluation, published in December 2025, his work under the project was recorded as 合格 (qualified).
Marks & Identification
A documented base mark on Cai Bingsheng pieces uses the final two characters of his name:
Because his career spans several decades and many glaze and firing styles, genuine examples can vary considerably in appearance.
Artist Media & Documentation
Swipe through documented works, certificates, packaging, maker marks and other identification media. Tap an image to open it full size.
References
Fujian Province · representative inheritors Official provincial record listing Cai Bingsheng, born January 1956, under 建窑建盏烧制技艺. View reference → Fujian Province · 2024 inheritor evaluation Official evaluation published in December 2025 listing Cai Bingsheng’s transmission activity as qualified. View reference → People’s Daily / Guangzhou Daily feature Feature covering Cai Bingsheng, the revival period, silver-blue oil spot, Fire Phoenix and wood firing. View reference → Jianyang News · Cai brothers Local reporting on Cai Bingkun, Cai Binglong and Cai Bingsheng and their role in modern Jian Zhan. View reference → Jianyang News · Liao Chengyi Records Liao Chengyi’s study under Cai Bingsheng. View reference → Technical article reference Secondary source for technical writing attributed to Cai Bingsheng. View reference → 《建盏技艺》 bibliographic listing Book-market bibliographic support for the Jian Zhan craftsmanship title attributed to Cai Bingsheng. View reference →References cover Cai Bingsheng’s heritage status, revival-era biography, teaching and technical work.
Works & Tagged Posts
