A Study on the Export of Chinese Porcelain and Its Cultural Influence from the Perspective of the Belt and Road Initiative

Porcelain is one of the great inventions of the Chinese people. Since prehistory, Chinese ceramics have experienced a long process of development from early pottery to primitive porcelain, from coarse porcelain to fine porcelain, from monochrome glazed porcelain to colorful porcelain, from self-sufficiency to export, and gradually become a handicraft with both practicality and artistry. In the eyes of the Western world, porcelain is a symbol of Chinese culture, occupying a significant position in ancient China's foreign trade. As a commodity, the export of porcelain began in the Han Dynasty, went through the Tang, Five Dynasties, Song, and Yuan Dynasties, and entered a new era in the Ming and Qing Dynasties with the prosperity of blue and white porcelain export, which to some extent promoted exchanges between China and the world. Export porcelain has both strong practicality and high artistic appreciation. The practicality of porcelain comes from the daily needs of users, but it also affects their living habits to a certain extent. The artistic value of porcelain is reflected not only in its decorative, ornamental, and collectible value, but also in its subtle influence on people's aesthetic taste. During the process of exporting, Chinese porcelain went overseas along the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Maritime Silk Road, continuously influencing and changing various fields such as economy, culture, art, religion, technology, and life in the countries and regions along the route, and even influenced the social and cultural construction of these countries and regions.