Study on firing temperature of the Song Dynasty (960–1279AD) greenish-white porcelain in Guangxi, China by thermal expansion method

Abstract The original firing temperatures of porcelain pieces unearthed from Tengxian Zhonghe kiln, Rongxian Chengguan kiln, Beiliu Lingdong kiln and Guiping Xishan kiln from the Song Dynasty (960–1279AD) of Guangxi were preliminarily studied by thermal expansion method. The experiment results show that the average firing temperature of Zhonghe kiln is 1186 °C (standard deviation 59 °C), the firing temperature relatively concentrated and low. The average firing temperature of Chengguan kiln is 1233 °C (standard deviation 46 °C), with the majority above 1200 °C, indicating that the kiln had a high and concentrated firing temperature. The average firing temperature of Lingdong kiln is 1250 °C (standard deviation 87 °C), the firing temperature are in a broad spectrum. The firing temperatures of Xishan kiln are mostly over 1300 °C (average 1307 °C, standard deviation 75 °C), which are generally considered very high, and the highest one it can go up to 1456 °C, which is the highest firing temperature of ancient Chinese ceramics known to date. Compared with the firing temperature of porcelain in other regions of China in Song Dynasty, it can be concluded that the high-temperature technology of Guangxi porcelain kilns was equal to or even advanced than other kilns. In the light of these findings, we conclude that the ancient Guangxi region of China did not lag behind the central plains in terms of ceramic firing technology and culture.