Ceramic decorations encompass a wide range of themes and forms, including landscapes, figures, flowers, birds, and calligraphy, each with its unique charm, contributing to the brilliance and diversity of ceramic art. Among these, ancient allegories, idioms, historical stories, and folk tales as decoration themes for ceramics have a long history, with numerous examples throughout the history of ceramics. Figure motifs are essential to Chinese ceramic decoration and boast a rich history. A notable early example is the human-fish pattern on the painted pottery of Xi'an Banpo, a remarkable representation of early figure motifs.

The application of figure motifs on ceramics began around the Wei and Jin dynasties, later than plant and animal motifs. During this period, the themes for figure decorations were relatively limited, primarily focusing on religious and mythical figures. For instance, the underglaze-painted figure motif jar in the Three Kingdoms period features immortals and auspicious beasts painted in brown and black. In the Northern and Southern dynasties, the theme of figure motifs expanded to include scenes such as Hu people dancing and playing music, Buddhist images, and celestial beings. Examples included the yellow-glazed flat flask in the Northern Qi Dynasty featuring almond-shaped musical and dance figures on both sides. Although the Sui Dynasty was short-lived, some ceramic pieces also featured figure motifs, demonstrating high skill in character depiction and human anatomy. During the Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties, figure motifs saw significant development, with themes such as depictions of children's play, court ladies, and scholars reflecting the characteristics of the period. In the Song Dynasty, figure motifs became even more prevalent. Notably, the depictions of children's play, including carving, incising, painting, scribing, and pasting techniques, dominated the theme and elevated the artistic level of ceramic decoration to new heights. In the Liao Dynasty, floral patterns were predominant, and figure motifs were relatively rare. However, the designs featured simple lines and vivid forms, showcasing high artistic value. During the Jin Dynasty, figure motifs on ceramics reflected strong local and rural characteristics, with skilled and lively depictions representing the period's aesthetic. In the Yuan Dynasty, figure motifs on ceramics played a transitional role in ceramic history. Not only did the range of themes expand, but painting techniques also improved significantly. Motifs portraying historical figures from this period were distinctive and showcased unique features not seen in any other dynasty.