The Gaochang Ceramics Collection

The Turpan region, historically known as Gaochang, was home to the Gaochang Wall, Gaochang Commandery, and the Kingdom of Gaochang. In 1930, Huang Wenbi conducted archaeological work in Turpan and unearthed more than 800 pottery artifacts. This book selects over 100 pieces in a variety of shapes and vivid colors, studying them alongside unearthed relics and documentary sources to reveal the crafts and art of ancient Gaochang, as well as the lives of its people. The book is divided into two parts. The first contains an excavation report, descriptions of objects found in ancient tombs, and a study of the pottery. The second presents illustrated plates of ancient ceramics. It provides a detailed account of the changing waterways and population movements in the ancient city of Jiaohe, as well as the forms and uses of objects and the techniques used to make them. It also estimates the dates of ancient pottery, making this a work of profound historical and archaeological significance.