Zhang Qingshan – Inheritor of Pottery-making Craft in Panlong District, Kunming 

Zhang Qingshan (张庆山), born in 1946, is a master of traditional pottery-making in Longquan Town (龙泉镇), Panlong District (盘龙区), Kunming (昆明). He hails from Xiaoyao Village (小窑村), located in the Baoyun Subdistrict (宝云办事处) of Kunming.

A Family Tradition of Pottery

Zhang comes from a long line of potters, with his family specializing in earthware pottery. Growing up under the influence of his father, he began learning pottery techniques at a young age.

Training and Early Work

In 1962, when Zhang’s father reconstructed a kiln factory, Zhang formally entered the pottery industry as an apprentice. During this period, he primarily crafted everyday household items such as water jars, pottery pots, flower pots, and traditional talismans like the “tile cats” used in local rural areas to ward off evil and protect homes. However, due to historical circumstances, the pottery factory ceased production.

Revival of Pottery-making in 1975

In 1975, Zhang, deeply passionate about traditional folk pottery, revived his father’s pottery kiln. He began training six apprentices, passing down the family’s craft. Today, his two sons continue this legacy, inheriting the pottery-making skills and ensuring the tradition endures.

Zhang’s pottery-making skills have garnered attention from local media, with both Yunnan Television and Kunming Television featuring him in interviews and documentary segments.

For more details, please visit the original source: Yunnan Cultural Heritage.