The Journal of the Siam Society Vol. XLIV, Part 1-2, 1956 - Khamkoo

Siatn and the Pottery Trade of Asia 79
At this period (the middle of the 14th century) China wae1
experiencing troubled times as a result of the conflicts which over.
threw the Yi.ian dynasty and finally brought the Ming to power in
1368. 'l'his was not only a period of wars but also one of famines,
plagues, locnsts, earthquakes and floods and consequent social unrest.
'l'he Ming Dynasty was no sooner established when the ;rapanese
pirate fleets of the dreaded wulcu ( 141:.1[) began theit· large-scale raids
along the China coa&t which seriously interferred with trade and
shipping.
Lung-ch'i:ian and the other famous Sung kilns were
situated principally in Kiaugsi, Chekiang and Fnkien, the districts
most exposed to u.wko depredations. Many of theso hilns had suffered
during the st.rife attending the Mongol conquest, and again during the
subsequent liberation by the Ming, whilt' before the end o£ the YUan
period a rival pottery centet• harl begun to rlevelop at Ohing-t8 Chen
( -f.f.t:lf\.) which eventually was to dominate the export trade with its
underglaze blue and white wares which largely took the place of
celadon in popular taste throughout the Asiatic marl,ets. Early in
the Miug period, the Lnng-ch'thm putters were compelled to move
to Ch'u Chon ( ~;f.:H·])
where they were able, however, tu continue
producing their famous celadon in the face of rising blue and white
competition unlil alruost the end of the Ming period.
H is possible, therefore, that some of the Lnng-ch'Uan potters
may have moved to Siam during this troubled pcniocl around the
middle of the 14th century in search of batter opport.nnities as well
as in response to the desire of the Siamese for ucldi.tional Chinese
potters to ~upplement the original company brought to Siam hy King
Barna Khamh&ng. Although no evidence is available, the A1·ab and
Indian traders may also havo been instrumental in such a move.
Having seen and possibly handled samples of the wares produced at
Sukhothai, they may have endeavored to promote the production of
the more saleable celadon lines in Siam, a country more accessible
to the Indian mal'kets and at the same time not subject to the
viscissiiucles which were thn disrupting the economy of China.
This is conjectural, of colll'se, but it is by no means outside the realm
of possibility.
offer a cas.e in point.
:For example, the famous Kirmau wares of Persia
Shah Abbas I thought it possible to develop