◎Dingzhou Porcelain

Dingzhou’s Business Cards

Dingzhou Kesi

Dingzhou is the birthplace of Kesi (Chinese silk tapestry),which reached the pinnacle of art in the Song Dynasty,when Dingzhou porcelain and Dingzhou silk tapestry were both business cards of Dingzhou.At that time,they were both for exclusive use by the royal families and people described its preciousness with the saying“kesi is as valuable as gold.”In fact,kesi is not really made with knives.It adopts raw silk as the longitude thread and boiled-off silk as the latitude thread to weave patterned silk fabric with the technique of“connected longitudes and broken latitudes.”The patterns of a finished kesi product are the same on both sides,with a strong stereoscopic impression and complicated process.It is a precious treasure of the world that combines weaving technology with painting and calligraphy art,and has always been known as“sage of fabrics”and“Carved Silk.”In 2013,Dingzhou was listed in the fifth batch of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Hebei Province.

Zhushi Iron Kettle

Zhushi Iron Kettle is a representative of Dingzhou’s traditional smelting and casting technology,which is inherited and has experienced innovative development in contemporary times.With the kettle as the carrier,it spreads the local characteristic culture.It integrates cultural relics such as Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda,Xuelang Rock and the Examination Hall into the kettle body,perfectly combining functionality with art,allowing people to feel the profoundness of Dingzhou’s history and culture while enjoying tea and leading the new trend of“talking about life when enjoying tea,learning the history of Dingzhou while appreciating the kettle.”The Zhushi Iron Kettle has won many national awards.

◎Jinniu Eye Powder

According to records,Zhang Qizhu,the founder of Jinniu Eye Powder (also known as Babao Eye Powder),founded the earliest eye powder shop in Dingzhou more than 300 years ago.It is said that Emperor Qianlong got an eye disease when he went by Dingzhou during a private visit.He was treated with Jinniu Eye Powder and was cured soon.Qianlong inscribed“Zhang’s Jinniu Drugstore,”which caused a sensation throughout the country and the drug was loved by the people.

Made from nine precious natural materials of traditional Chinese medicine,Jinniu Eye Powder is a representative of traditional Chinese medicine for treating eye diseases with great effects.In 2014,the production process of Jinniu Eye Powder was listed in the representative projects of the fourth batch of The National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of China.

◎Dingzhou Porcelain

Dingzhou Porcelain has been made in Ding Kiln (Dingzhou Kiln),since the Tang Dynasty and flourished in the Northern Song Dynasty.Ding Kiln has experienced several generations and has far-reaching influence in northern China.Ding Kiln and Ru,Jun,Guan and Ge Kilns were collectively called the five famous kilns in the Song Dynasty.In Tang Dynasty,the products were mainly bowls,and in the Song Dynasty,bowls,plates,bottles,saucers,boxes and pillows were the main products.The kiln also produced worshiping utensils such as vases and conchs,which were thin and light,hard,white and not so transparent.Products of Ding Kiln are burned by overlapping firing,and the edges are usually unglazed,called“unglazed rim,”which is one of the characteristics of Ding Kiln products.