China is the earliest country in the world to manufacture porcelains. In the history of Jingdezhen ceramics, blue and white porcelains have attracted a large number of ceramic collectors and enthusiasts with its unique cultural connotations and artistic charm.

Blue and white porcelains originated in the Tang and Song dynasties, took shape in the late Yuan dynasty, and matured in the Ming dynasty. It stands alongside rice-pattern decorated porcelains, famille rose porcelains, and color porcelains as one of the four famous types of Jingdezhen porcelains, with blue and white porcelains holding the primary position. What is blue and white porcelains? "Blue and white" is a type of underglaze painting that uses minerals containing cobalt oxide as a colorant. It is used to decorate the porcelain body with painting, then covered with a transparent glaze and fired at high temperatures to produce a beautiful blue color. Since the blue and white porcelain is fired in one high-temperature process, the color inside the glaze has strong chemical stability and remains unchanged for a long time. It is not subject to atmospheric and acid-base erosion.

In the long process of ceramic development, blue and white porcelains from each historical period have their own unique style and characteristics of the times. For example: (1) The Yongle and Xuande blue and white porcelains have deep blue. Its blue and white is relatively calm, penetrating, and has a solemn and substantial color effect. (2) The Chenghua and Zhengde blue and white porcelains have light blue. The blue and white color is relatively light, elegant, uniform, and beautiful. (3)The Jiajing blue and white porcelains have a strong purple tone. Its blue and white is strong and not showing any fiery spirit. The distant effect is relatively good, suitable for large and thick works. But if the blue material is not properly prepared, it is easy to approach the tone of pure cobalt oxide. (4) The Wanli blue and white porcelains exhibit a rich variety of colors: some pieces are deep and resplendent, with a blue hue tinged with purple; some pieces are serene and gray, with tones that gradually lighten. Additionally, there are a few pieces that have indigo and refined touches, characterized by distinct color gradations. (5) For the fresh blue of Kangxi blue and white porcelains, the blue and white is clear, fresh but not fiery, bright but not vulgar. It is an ideal and special tone.

From ancient times, from the ports of Quanzhou and Guangzhou in China, ships set sail to Japan, Southeast Asian countries, and Africa, carrying bundles of blue and white porcelains for trade. On the ancient and arduous "Silk Road," camel teams, known as the "ships of the desert," carried blue and white porcelains westward, passing through Persia, Egypt, and other countries to Europe. The Ming dynasty Chinese navigator Zheng He, who went to the Western Seas seven times, brought a large number of blue and white porcelains, spreading to more than thirty countries. This has become a bridge of friendship between China and people from all over the world.

During the Song Dynasty, Jingdezhen was primarily known for its blue and white porcelains, with everyday utensils mainly associated with the prevalence of tea culture. Literati favored blue and white porcelains, making them predominant of the era. In the Yuan Dynasty, blue and white porcelains grew like a giant overnight, astonishing the world with its rapid development. For example, a porcelain vase known as Master Guiguzi Coming Down the Mountain was auctioned for a staggering 246 million yuan in recent years, causing a global sensation. The creation of such exquisite pieces was inseparable from the ruling class of the time. They valued porcelain production and established the "Fuliang Porcelain Bureau" in Jingdezhen, which marked the beginning of the imperial porcelains in the region. During the Yuan Dynasty, there was an exchange with foreign countries in the field of ceramics. The foreign trade and the integration of foreign cultures led to a new level in the development of Jingdezhen ceramics. In the early and middle Ming Dynasty, ceramic development was slow, but by the late Ming Dynasty, famous kilns rapidly rose to prominence, with a unique beauty that resembled a hundred flowers blooming. This was again due to the ruling class's emphasis on the development of ceramics. In Early Qing Dynasty, the artistic ceramics somewhat imitated others in terms of aesthetics and style and lacked individuality and representative works. At the end of the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China, famous kilns developed rapidly. Especially after the founding of the People's Republic of China, a large number of outstanding elderly artists emerged, creating a batch of excellent works. The late "King of Blue and White Porcelains" Wang Bu is an outstanding representative. He was adept at mastering the basic principles of Chinese painting, daring to innovate, and forming his own school. He skillfully combined Chinese painting with traditional  techniques for blue and white porcelains. Under his mature control of kiln temperatures, he created solemn, rich, and thought-provoking blue and white porcelain works.

Blue and white porcelains not only belong to Jingdezhen, to China, but also to the whole world. Blue and white porcelains do not only belong to history, to the present, but also to a beautiful tomorrow.