At the 21st International Cultural Industries Fair, a humble booth in the China's Taiwan region exhibition area drew crowds with its intricate black-glazed porcelain. Behind the display sat 78-year-old Pai Pengyin, known affectionately as "Porcelain Granny,\” who has spent over half a century preserving a vanishing art form.
"Each piece carries our ancestors’ wisdom,\” Pai told CGTN reporter Wang Tao, her hands shaping clay with practiced ease. As one of the last artisans specializing in traditional black-glazed techniques on the island of Taiwan, she views her craft as more than artistry—it’s a bridge to cultural roots. "We’ve always been Chinese,\” she stated simply, her words echoing generations of shared heritage.
Black-glazed porcelain, dating back to China’s Song Dynasty, requires meticulous ash-glaze mixing and high-temperature kiln firing. Pai’s works—from tea sets to decorative plates—showcase motifs blending Fujianese influences with local Taiwan elements, reflecting centuries of cross-strait cultural exchange.
Cultural preservationists note that fewer than 20 artisans in the Taiwan region still practice this technique. "Granny Pai’s work reminds us that traditions outlive political divisions,\” said fair attendee Li Wei, a historian specializing in East Asian crafts.
As younger generations gravitate toward modern industries, Pai mentors apprentices in her small workshop. "If this craft disappears,\” she says, "part of our story disappears with it.\” Her quiet determination offers a poignant counterpoint to today’s fast-paced world—one clay bowl at a time.
