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Field Note No. 004: The Pulse of the Porcelain Capital
Location: Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province
Date: April 18 – 20, 2026
Travelers: Richard Zhang (Founding Curator) & Miles (Digital Architect)
Objective: Sourcing contemporary masterpieces and bridging the gap between ancient kilns and modern life.
Date: April 18 – 20, 2026
Travelers: Richard Zhang (Founding Curator) & Miles (Digital Architect)
Objective: Sourcing contemporary masterpieces and bridging the gap between ancient kilns and modern life.
The Pilgrimage to the Source
On a clear morning on April 18th, Miles and I left the white walls of Huangshan behind. The two-hour drive to Jingdezhen is a route I have traversed many times, yet it never loses its magnetic pull. Before founding ZENTAOEAST, this city was my personal sanctuary—a place where one can find extraordinary original vessels, master artisans with superhuman skills, and the vibrant energy of a new generation of creators.
Jingdezhen is a city of layers. It is the "Ghost Market" on Shuguang Road, where I have spent many pre-dawn hours scavenging for a single piece of antique soul, and it is the cutting-edge laboratory of ceramic science. For us, this three-day journey was a quest to find the objects that would define our "Artisan Living" collection.
Jingdezhen is a city of layers. It is the "Ghost Market" on Shuguang Road, where I have spent many pre-dawn hours scavenging for a single piece of antique soul, and it is the cutting-edge laboratory of ceramic science. For us, this three-day journey was a quest to find the objects that would define our "Artisan Living" collection.
The 90s Spirit: Yu & Xiong Studio
Our first stop was the area surrounding the Jingdezhen Ceramic University—the "West Point" of the ceramic world. This is where the voyage begins for China’s most talented young artists. We were here to visit Yu & Xiong Studio, founded just nine years ago by a brilliant young man of the "90s generation" known as Xiao Xiong.
Xiao Xiong is the personification of the ZENTAOEAST spirit: talented, creative, yet remarkably humble—almost shy. His studio has grown into a 4,000-square-meter powerhouse with nearly 100 staff, yet the work remains profoundly personal.
Xiao Xiong is the personification of the ZENTAOEAST spirit: talented, creative, yet remarkably humble—almost shy. His studio has grown into a 4,000-square-meter powerhouse with nearly 100 staff, yet the work remains profoundly personal.
The Fusion: His designs are a "Global Zen," blending ancient Chinese forms with a modern, inclusive aesthetic. He has reimagined traditional tea tools to fit the pace and space of a contemporary apartment.
The Highlight: We were particularly moved by his portable travel tea kits. They are masterpieces of engineering—durable, sleek, and intuitive—earning praise for allowing the ritual of tea to follow the traveler into the wild. After four hours of deep dialogue with his team, we selected several works that we believe will become "Lifelong Companions" for our clients.
The Highlight: We were particularly moved by his portable travel tea kits. They are masterpieces of engineering—durable, sleek, and intuitive—earning praise for allowing the ritual of tea to follow the traveler into the wild. After four hours of deep dialogue with his team, we selected several works that we believe will become "Lifelong Companions" for our clients.
Sanbao: Where the Stream Meets the Kiln
As evening fell, we retreated to Sanbao Village, the trendiest pulse-point of the city. We stayed at a guesthouse within Ciyuanjing (The Porcelain Source Realm), located at the entrance of the valley.
Ciyuanjing is more than a tourist destination; it is a concentrated hub of the kilns and studios I admire most. The following morning was spent in "Intensive Study"—visiting seven or eight boutique brands to understand their latest breakthroughs in mineral glazes and firing stability. We later paused at Sanbaopeng, enjoying a moment of stillness (and a rare cup of excellent coffee) at Bu Kong Shan, a tea space that perfectly embodies the "Architecture of Silence."
Ciyuanjing is more than a tourist destination; it is a concentrated hub of the kilns and studios I admire most. The following morning was spent in "Intensive Study"—visiting seven or eight boutique brands to understand their latest breakthroughs in mineral glazes and firing stability. We later paused at Sanbaopeng, enjoying a moment of stillness (and a rare cup of excellent coffee) at Bu Kong Shan, a tea space that perfectly embodies the "Architecture of Silence."
Taoyi Street: The Curator’s Secret
While the world flocks to the bright lights of Taoxichuan or the historic alleys of Taoyangli, my favorite place for true curation is Taoyi Street (Ceramic Art Street).
Though I have visited Jingdezhen countless times, this was my first dedicated sourcing mission to this particular street. It is a dense corridor of professional brand outposts and kiln-owner showrooms. Without the distraction of massive tourist crowds, Miles and I were able to engage in slow, heart-to-heart conversations with the makers. We felt the textures, weighed the vessels, and listened to the stories of the clay. It was here that we found the "hidden edge" of Jingdezhen—the independent studios that prioritize soul over scale.
Though I have visited Jingdezhen countless times, this was my first dedicated sourcing mission to this particular street. It is a dense corridor of professional brand outposts and kiln-owner showrooms. Without the distraction of massive tourist crowds, Miles and I were able to engage in slow, heart-to-heart conversations with the makers. We felt the textures, weighed the vessels, and listened to the stories of the clay. It was here that we found the "hidden edge" of Jingdezhen—the independent studios that prioritize soul over scale.
The Eternal North Star
No journey to the Porcelain Capital is complete without a visit to the China Ceramics Museum. On our final morning, we stood in silence before the Yuan Dynasty Blue and White Meiping and the ethereal Yongzheng-era Famille Rose.
These are our "Ancestral North Stars." They remind us that while styles evolve—moving from the bold ink-wash of the Yuan to the delicate "Endless Blossoms" of the Qing—the standard of excellence remains constant. They provide the "Bone" for the objects we select today.
These are our "Ancestral North Stars." They remind us that while styles evolve—moving from the bold ink-wash of the Yuan to the delicate "Endless Blossoms" of the Qing—the standard of excellence remains constant. They provide the "Bone" for the objects we select today.
A Homecoming
As we drove back toward the mountains of Huangshan on the afternoon of the 20th, I felt a profound sense of gratitude. Jingdezhen is a living, breathing organism that is only two hours from our home. It is a place of constant learning, a forge where we refine our own eyes.
Field Summary
Key Discovery: The evolution of "Portable Rituals" via Yu & Xiong Studio.
Curation Strategy: Prioritizing Taoyi Street for professional, low-noise sourcing.
Spiritual Anchor: Revisiting the museum to align contemporary taste with imperial standards.
Founding Curator's Note: "Innovation is not the rejection of tradition, but the respectful translation of it for a new era."
Curation Strategy: Prioritizing Taoyi Street for professional, low-noise sourcing.
Spiritual Anchor: Revisiting the museum to align contemporary taste with imperial standards.
Founding Curator's Note: "Innovation is not the rejection of tradition, but the respectful translation of it for a new era."
Curator’s Verdict
"Jingdezhen is an eternal dialogue between ancestral fire and the modern soul. On this journey, we bypassed the noise of the crowds to find the silent truth within independent studios. We seek the 'Qi' that breathes within the clay—the 'Temperature of the Hand' that no machine can replicate. Each vessel we curated is a portal to stillness, forged at 1,300 degrees to help you reclaim your center in an atomized world.
At ZENTAOEAST, we are honored to be the bridge that carries the heat of these 1,000-year-old kilns into your personal sanctuary."
At ZENTAOEAST, we are honored to be the bridge that carries the heat of these 1,000-year-old kilns into your personal sanctuary."