Scientific and Technological Analysis of Zhaili Kiln Celadon from Late Northern Dynasties to the Tang

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Abstract Zibo Zhaili Kiln is an important producing area of celadon in northern China. Through the analysis of chemical composition and firing temperature of 19 celadon and kiln furniture samples from the Northern Dynasties to the Tang Dynasty unearthed at Zhaili Kiln, explore the origin and porcelain-making technology. The results show that the porcelain body adopted a "binary formula" of local Zibo daqing-soil mixed with quartz, which increased the SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 ratio of the porcelain body and thereby reduced its firing temperature. The kiln furniture were made of the same raw materials as the porcelain body, probably existed a phenomenon of repeated use. The porcelain glaze used plant ash as a flux and added a large amount of iron-containing raw materials to imitate the glaze color of southern celadon, but the oxidizing atmosphere in the kiln made it difficult to achieve the glaze color of southern celadon. The firing temperature of Zhaili Kiln celadon was 1282°C, and the sintering degree of its body was generally low. The origin of Zhaili Kiln celadon was closely related to the demand of the noble in Shandong region. Its porcelain-making technology not only reflects the early exchange of kiln industry technology between the north and the south, but also embodies the indigenous innovation of northern kilns.
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Through the analysis of chemical composition and firing temperature of 19 celadon and kiln furniture samples from the Northern Dynasties to the Tang Dynasty unearthed at Zhaili Kiln, explore the origin and porcelain-making technology. The results show that the porcelain body adopted a "binary formula" of local Zibo daqing-soil mixed with quartz, which increased the SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 ratio of the porcelain body and thereby reduced its firing temperature. The kiln furniture were made of the same raw materials as the porcelain body, probably existed a phenomenon of repeated use. The porcelain glaze used plant ash as a flux and added a large amount of iron-containing raw materials to imitate the glaze color of southern celadon, but the oxidizing atmosphere in the kiln made it difficult to achieve the glaze color of southern celadon. The firing temperature of Zhaili Kiln celadon was 1282°C, and the sintering degree of its body was generally low. The origin of Zhaili Kiln celadon was closely related to the demand of the noble in Shandong region. Its porcelain-making technology not only reflects the early exchange of kiln industry technology between the north and the south, but also embodies the indigenous innovation of northern kilns. Zhaili Kiln the origin of celadon porcelain-making techniqu Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 Introduction The Zhaili kiln complex is located just over ten kilometers east of the urban area of Zichuan District, Zibo City, Shandong Province, and comprises four kiln sites: Shundaodi, Dazhang, Tianshuijing, and Jinpendi. The site was first identified by local cultural authorities during a 1957 cultural relics survey; from 1976 to 1977 the Shandong Zibo Ceramic History Editorial Group, the Shandong Museum, and other institutions re-examined and conducted trial excavations at the Zhaili kilns [ 1 ] , dividing the excavated ceramics into three groups whose chronologies correspond to Eastern Wei, Northern Qi through the Sui, and the middle–late Tang, and preliminarily summarizing the principal characteristics of wares from each period [ 2 ] . Production at Zhaili was dominated by celadon, accompanied by smaller quantities of biscuit-fired (unglazed) wares and lead-glazed ceramics. Common vessel forms include bowls, jars, basins, lids, and plates; the kilns employed pillar cushions, three-pronged supports, and multi-toothed supports as kiln furniture. As one of the earliest northern centers for celadon production [ 3 ] , Zhaili is significant for studying the origins of this craft in the north. Its technology was transmitted from the south and then locally adapted through the innovation of local kiln workers using regional raw materials. Zhaili kiln celadon has long been overlooked in academic circles. On one hand, due to the lack of systematic excavation, it is difficult to accurately grasp the characteristics of celadon from different periods, making typological analysis unfeasible. On the other hand, the quality of Zhaili kiln celadon still lagged behind that of Southern celadon from the same period, which further contributed to its neglect. In recent years, however, with the continuous development of ceramic scientific archaeology, there has been a growing body of scientific research focused on the Zhaili Kiln. Huang S. etal. were among the first to conduct microstructural observations and chemical compositional analyses of Zhaili celadons [ 4 ] . Guo Meiqing provided a preliminary analysis of Zhaili celadon ceramic technology from the Northern Dynasties through the Sui [ 5 ] . Chao Geng. et al. have discussed the manufacturing techniques and developmental drivers of Zhaili celadon [ 6 ] . Yet these studies have not compared the wares with local Zibo raw materials nor subjected the kiln furniture to technological analysis. The present study therefore investigates the origin and manufacturing technology of Zhaili celadon from the perspectives of body and glaze composition and firing temperature, combined with a comparative analysis of ceramic raw materials from the Zibo region. Experimental Samples This study selects 15 celadon samples and 4 kiln furniture samples from the Zhaili kiln as the research objects. The celadon samples are numbered ZL1 to ZL15, and the kiln furniture samples are numbered ZL16 to ZL19. All samples were provided by the Zichuan Museum. Only sample ZL1 can be definitively dated to the late Northern Dynasties period; the other samples date from the late Northern Dynasties to the Tang Dynasty, but their specific chronology cannot be determined by means of typology or glaze and body characteristics.Celadon shards are mainly porcelain bowl fragments. Kiln tools include trident-shaped supports and multi-tooth supports. Some of the specimens are shown below (Fig. 1 ). Analytical methods and instruments All analyses were carried out in the Laboratory for Scientific Archaeology, School of Archaeology and Museology, Peking University. The analytical protocol comprised energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and thermal expansion measurements. Body and glaze composition analysis were determined by ED-XRF and SEM-EDS. ED-XRF measurements were performed on a Horiba (Horiba, Inc., Japan) XGT-7000 energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. Analytical conditions were: X-ray incident spot diameter 1.2 mm; X-ray tube voltage 30 kV; X-ray tube current 0.029 mA; data acquisition time 100 s. Each specimen was measured at 2–3 points and the average value was taken. SEM-EDS observations were made with a Hitachi TM3030 tabletop scanning electron microscope. Samples were mounted in epoxy resin, ground with sandpaper, and polished prior to insertion into the TM3030 chamber; cross-sections of glaze and body were photographed and element distribution maps were obtained by EDS to support microstructural compositional analysis. Firing temperatures were estimated by thermal expansion. Measurements were carried out on a NETZSCH (Germany) DIL 806 optical dilatometer. Ceramic shards were prepared as test specimens and heated in the dilatometer at a rate of 10°C/min to between 1100°C and 1350°C while the change in specimen length as a function of temperature was recorded. Analysis of the compositional results of porcelain bodies and glazes 3.1 Analysis of Porcelain Body Composition The results of the major elements in the sample matrix obtained by ED-XRF testing are shown in [Table 1 ]. Table 1 Chemical Compositions of the Celadon and Kiln Furniture Bodies from Zhaili Kiln (Unit: wt%) Sample No Na 2 O MgO Al 2 O 3 SiO 2 K 2 O CaO TiO 2 MnO Fe 2 O 3 ZL1 0.82 0.92 25.73 67.56 1.64 0.66 1.02 0.01 1.67 ZL2 0.83 0.39 25.01 69.17 1.46 0.38 0.83 0.00 1.96 ZL3 0.85 0.53 23.73 70.55 1.33 0.43 0.95 0.01 1.63 ZL4 0.80 1.39 25.57 67.10 1.70 0.63 0.90 0.01 1.93 ZL5 0.86 0.47 23.32 70.68 1.48 0.57 1.00 0.01 1.64 ZL6 0.87 0.41 23.43 70.54 1.57 0.48 0.84 0.00 1.87 ZL7 0.86 0.41 22.10 71.98 1.41 0.50 0.84 0.00 1.91 ZL8 0.86 0.46 23.69 69.35 1.42 0.62 0.72 0.01 2.91 ZL9 0.86 0.57 23.17 71.01 1.45 0.39 0.89 0.01 1.69 ZL10 0.87 0.41 23.94 70.15 1.50 0.45 0.87 0.01 1.81 ZL11 0.83 0.51 23.42 70.63 1.74 0.46 0.93 0.00 1.50 ZL12 0.83 0.46 24.54 69.64 1.48 0.39 0.74 0.01 1.94 ZL13 0.87 0.54 22.78 70.82 1.63 0.46 0.88 0.01 2.05 ZL14 0.90 0.51 21.80 71.34 1.72 1.05 0.82 0.01 1.89 ZL15 0.86 0.72 23.04 70.81 1.48 0.33 0.83 0.01 1.95 ZL16 0.86 0.46 22.65 71.19 1.66 0.47 0.83 0.01 1.89 ZL17 0.87 0.88 21.84 71.45 1.54 0.79 0.83 0.00 1.82 ZL18 0.87 0.75 22.52 71.25 1.55 0.52 0.85 0.01 1.70 ZL19 0.88 0.50 22.42 71.19 1.45 0.78 0.84 0.00 1.95 Porcelain Body Average 0.85 0.58 23.68 70.09 1.53 0.52 0.87 0.01 1.89 Kiln Furniture Average 0.87 0.65 22.36 71.27 1.55 0.64 0.84 0.00 1.84 Figure 3 . TiO 2 − Fe 2 O 3 Scatter Plot of Porcelain Bodies and Kiln Furniture Bodies Table 2 Chemical Compositions of Porcelain - making Raw Materials in Zibo Area (Unit: wt%) Raw Material Name Na 2 O MgO Al 2 O 3 SiO 2 K 2 O CaO TiO 2 Fe 2 O 3 IL NanQing soil 0.23 0.32 30.69 53.50 1.52 0.30 0.69 2.03 10.62 JiaHuang soil — 0.87 32.00 50.51 — 1.04 1.00 2.76 9.64 DaQing soil — 0.46 25.68 61.04 — 0.18 1.09 1.89 9.11 DiBan soil — 0.96 23.83 59.71 — 0.50 1.12 3.06 10.49 Yao soil — 1.85 14.30 63.25 — 5.19 1.00 5.58 7.35 According to the ED-XRF results (Table 1 ), the chemical composition of the Zhaili celadon bodies exhibits the following characteristics: SiO 2 ranges from 67.10% to 71.98% (mean 70.09%); Al 2 O 3 ranges from 21.80% to 25.73% (mean 23.68%). In general, kaolin or high‑alumina clay was used for porcelain production in northern China,. The Al₂O₃ content in the porcelain bodies was mostly higher than 25%. The average Al₂O₃ content of the porcelain bodies from the Zhaili Kiln was 23.68%, generally lower. Accordingly, the SiO₂ content in the porcelain bodies was relatively high. A comparison between the Zhaili body averages and the chemical compositions of ceramic raw materials from the Zibo area (Table 2 ) shows that the composition of the daqing-tu most closely matches the Zhaili bodies [ 7 ] , particularly with respect to Fe 2 O 3 and TiO 2 . Daqing-soil is a sedimentary, soft clay with relatively high aluminum content; it is mainly distributed around Shantou, Weitou River, and the Majiazhuang area of Zibo, occurs as an associate of coal seams and is readily exploitable. Its source areas are geographically proximate to the Zhaili kilns [ 8 ] , which together indicate that daqing-tu was likely the principal clay used at Zhaili. However, Table 2 records a SiO 2 content for Daqing-soil of only 61.04%, markedly lower than the SiO 2 measured in the Zhaili bodies; this disparity suggests that a high-silica material was added to the clay bodies, which would also lower the relative Al 2 O 3 proportion in the finished body. The presence and nature of any supplemental high-silica additions should be further investigated by microstructural analysis of the ceramic bodies. The bodies of the kiln-furniture from Zhaili show SiO 2 contents of 71.19–71.45% (mean 71.27%) and Al 2 O 3 contents of 21.84–22.65% (mean 22.36%). As with the ceramic bodies (Fig. 2 ), the kiln-furniture bodies display generally high SiO 2 and relatively low Al 2 O 3 ; the bulk elemental concentrations differ little between the two groups and their compositional ranges largely overlap, indicating that the kiln furniture and the ceramic bodies were sourced from the same raw material. This contrasts with early southern celadon production (for example at Yue kilns), where clear differences exist between the body clays used for vessels and those used for kiln furniture. Moreover, the distribution of the Zhaili kiln-furniture data is tightly clustered with low dispersion, suggesting a stable and consistent source for the kiln-furniture clay. The Zhaili celadon bodies contain Fe 2 O 3 in the range 1.50–2.91% (mean 1.89%) and TiO 2 in the range 0.72–1.02% (mean 0.87%). Except for a few outliers, Fe 2 O 3 concentrations in the bodies are relatively concentrated (Fig. 3), and the Fe 2 O 3 and TiO 2 distributions for the kiln-furniture bodies essentially overlap the ranges observed for the vessel bodies. Fe 2 O 3 and TiO 2 are among the key factors influencing the coloration of porcelain bodies. Compared to early southern celadon, the Fe 2 O 3 and TiO 2 content in the porcelain bodies of Zhaili Kiln is relatively low, which explains the predominantly grayish-white appearance of most specimens. However, the frequent presence of dark speckles or spots in the body suggests that raw materials likely underwent processing such as sorting and levigation to reduce impurity levels, though these measures fell short of thorough refinement. A small portion of the porcelain bodies exhibits a reddish-brown hue, attributable to the kiln masters' incomplete control over the firing atmosphere, resulting in predominantly oxidizing conditions within the kiln. 3.2 Analysis of Porcelain Glaze Component Results The results of the major elements in the sample glazes obtained by ED-XRF testing are shown in [Table 3 ]. The chemical composition of Zhaili celadon glazes is shown in Table 3 : SiO 2 is mostly in the range 58–62%, with some samples as low as 54.05%; Al 2 O 3 varies more widely from 12.54% to 18.26% (mean 14.96%). The scatter plot of body and glaze SiO 2 –Al 2 O 3 (Fig. 4 ) reveals a degree of parallelism between body and glaze distributions, and TiO 2 concentrations are similar in body and glaze, indicating that the clay used for body preparation may also have served as the base formula for glazes. CaO in the glazes is relatively high—above 10% in most cases (mean 13.68%)—while Na 2 O and K 2 O are comparatively low. Using the Ca-based glaze classification criteria proposed by Luo Hongjie et al., the average value of RO/(RO+R 2 O) in the glazes exceeds 0.76, indicating that Zhaili celadon glazes follow a calcium-rich (Ca-type) glaze formulation [ 9 ] . Because of the high CaO and low K 2 O, the glazes exhibit large changes in high-temperature viscosity and fluidity with temperature; their molten viscosity is relatively poor and glaze running is pronounced. Consequently, glaze surfaces often display patchy areas of uneven thickness, interior bases commonly have thick, darkened glaze layers, and exteriors frequently show tear-like drip streaks. Table 3 Chemical Compositions of the Celadon Glazes from Zhaili Kiln (Unit: wt%) Sample No Na 2 O MgO Al 2 O 3 SiO 2 K 2 O CaO TiO 2 MnO Fe 2 O 3 ZL1 0.76 1.78 18.26 54.05 3.60 10.45 1.00 0.20 9.89 ZL2 0.84 2.32 14.69 58.77 2.70 15.86 0.67 0.15 3.99 ZL3 0.86 2.12 14.31 62.14 2.01 13.66 0.68 0.13 4.09 ZL4 0.86 2.62 12.76 58.26 2.82 17.32 0.68 0.13 4.56 ZL5 0.83 2.48 15.62 59.36 1.74 14.97 0.62 0.10 4.31 ZL6 0.81 2.59 17.34 61.35 2.14 11.79 0.68 0.09 3.22 ZL7 0.89 1.83 15.53 63.30 2.25 10.60 0.65 0.09 4.86 ZL8 0.87 2.80 13.59 60.83 2.38 13.00 0.56 0.12 5.87 ZL9 0.86 2.58 12.79 58.32 2.08 17.59 0.63 0.18 4.98 ZL10 0.88 2.99 12.54 60.77 2.40 14.90 0.56 0.13 4.85 ZL11 0.86 1.69 15.77 60.81 2.31 11.78 0.72 0.09 5.99 ZL12 0.86 2.68 14.18 61.19 2.43 13.51 0.63 0.11 4.44 ZL13 0.87 1.10 15.14 60.07 2.49 14.01 0.84 0.08 5.41 ZL14 0.85 2.18 16.74 61.27 2.05 12.15 0.69 0.09 4.02 ZL15 0.84 2.67 15.09 60.43 1.83 13.65 0.60 0.17 4.44 For celadon glazes, the main coloring elements are iron and titanium. The Fe 2 O 3 content of Zhaili glazes is markedly higher than that of contemporaneous southern celadons: southern glazes typically show Fe 2 O 3 around ~ 2% [ 10 ] , whereas ED-XRF measurements indicate an average Fe 2 O 3 in Zhaili glazes approaching 5%, with some samples reaching as high as 9.89%.In the production of southern celadon, the raw materials themselves were sufficient to produce a green glaze without the addition of extra iron. In contrast, kiln workers at Zhaili actively added iron-rich materials during glaze formulation, indicating that they had recognized iron as the key element responsible for the celadon color. This practice suggests a deliberate intention to imitate the glaze appearance of southern celadon wares. Unlike southern celadons, however, Zhaili glazes tend to appear yellow-brown or greenish-brown, with a few specimens in deep brown approaching black, showing that the glaze color was unstable. When iron is the chromophore, the relative proportions of its two valence states determine whether the glaze appears yellowish or bluish; that proportion depends both on total Fe concentration and on the kiln’s firing atmosphere. During the late Northern Dynasties to the early Tang, Zhaili employed mantou kilns—dome-shaped “mantou” kilns common in the Yellow River region—which more readily produce oxidizing flames. A tendency toward an oxidizing kiln atmosphere therefore contributed significantly to the instability of glaze coloration. 3.3 Microstructural Analysis Selected representative samples were subjected to microscopic observation, revealing that the porcelain bodies generally exhibit a low degree of sintering. The body is composed of a matrix, uneven particulate matter, and pores. (Fig. 5 a, 5 b). SEM–EDS shows that the particulate inclusions are principally residual quartz, unsintered clay aggregates, and Fe–Ti residual phases. Residual quartz is abundant and in some cases grains are large—occasionally exceeding 200 µm. Large quartz grains typically reflect inadequate grinding or levigation of raw materials; in the Zhaili bodies these residual quartz grains may partly result from coarse preparation, but are more likely to derive from the intentional addition of quartzite or quartz sand to the clay.The porcelain bodies of the Zhaili Kiln were produced using local Daqing clay from the Zibo region, which typically contains a high Al₂O₃ content and therefore requires a relatively high firing temperature. The addition of quartz to the clay increases the SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio in the body, thereby effectively lowering the required firing temperature. On the basis of the morphology of residual quartz and the bodies’ high SiO 2 content, these coarse quartz grains should therefore be interpreted as added quartzite or quartz sand rather than intrinsic to the clay. Moreover, in part of the ZL1 body there is evidence of apparent glaze residue (Fig. 5 c). SEM–EDS analysis shows that the basic composition of this area differs from the surrounding body and more closely resembles the glaze [Table 4 ]. Large blocky high-calcium crystals were also observed in this zone [Table 4 ], and their precipitation further demonstrates that calcium-bearing materials were added to the glaze recipe. The presence of glaze in parts of the body is attributed to insufficient firing temperature and high water absorption of the body, which caused pores within the body to absorb part of the glaze. This also accounts for the uneven thickness and patchy distribution observed on the glaze surface. Microscopic observation of the kiln furniture indicates that its microstructure does not differ markedly from that of the vessel bodies, but the degree of sintering is generally higher in the kiln furniture (Fig. 5 d): residual quartz is less abundant and the matrix shows better vitrification, although appreciable Fe–Ti residual phases and other impurities remain. As consumable items in ceramic production, kiln furniture would have been reused repeatedly; this repeated use likely promoted progressive sintering of the supports over multiple firings, yielding the comparatively higher sintering observed microscopically. Because both kiln furniture and vessel bodies derive from the same raw material, and because the kiln furniture contains high-silica quartz grains and correspondingly high SiO 2 , the supports prove durable under repeated firing and are thus able to sinter progressively without rapid degradation. This circumstance also indirectly indicates that the clay resources for body production at Zhaili were readily accessible and inexpensive. Microscopic observation of the glazes reveals that the glaze layer of Zhaili kiln celadon is relatively thin, with most samples having a glaze thickness of less than 300 µm. During actual observation, the body color of most samples was found to affect their apparent coloration. The microstructure of different celadon glazes shows notable variation. As shown in Fig. 6 b and 6 d, most glazes are highly vitrified, exhibiting no residual quartz or other crystals, containing only a few bubbles; the glaze–body interface is well bonded and a small amount of amphodelite crystallization occurs at the boundary. By contrast, some celadon glazes retain residual quartz and other crystals: Fig. 6 a and 6 c show glazes containing unmelted quartz, and in some samples residual quartz grains exceed 70 µm in size. Burial-related corrosion affects the glaze in some sherds. Further analysis using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM—EDS) revealed that the glaze layers all contained a relatively high content of P₂O₅ [Table 4 ], it is a typical plant ash glaze formula. Table 4 Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) Results of ZL1 Celadon Samples (Unit: wt%) ZL1-Suspected Glaze Material Na 2 O MgO Al 2 O 3 SiO 2 P 2 O 5 K 2 O CaO TiO 2 MnO Fe 2 O 3 0.60 5.48 15.90 44.77 2.70 0.84 24.79 0.02 1.87 3.03 ZL1-High-Calcium Crystals 1.03 0.79 8.80 20.20 4.63 1.48 57.71 2.15 — 3.21 Glaze Layer Average 1.15 1.81 16.70 57.10 1.57 2.39 14.06 0.99 0.09 4.14 ZL1-Rhombic Crystals 0.39 8.42 6.99 41.87 8.29 0.21 23.88 1.04 1.56 7.35 Particularly noteworthy among the present assemblage is ZL1. This specimen is an underfired (bisque) piece whose glaze is not fully vitrified and therefore preserves primary information about the glaze recipe. Figure 6 a shows that the ZL1 glaze contains a variety of crystalline phases, including unmelted quartz, amphodelite, and rhombic crystals. Further SEM–EDS analysis of the ZL1 glaze (Fig. 7 a, 7 b) indicates that the rhombic crystals are high-silica, high-calcium phases that also contain measurable Mg and Fe [Table 4 ]; It is initially speculated that the precipitated rhombic crystals are pyroxene type. Pyroxene is a general term for a series of minerals belonging to the pyroxene group, with a relatively complex composition [ 11 ] . The precipitation of pyroxene crystals in the glaze layer of ZL1 is related to the large amount of iron-containing raw materials added to the glaze, and results from the reaction and crystallization of elements such as iron, magnesium, and silicon under specific conditions. Although pyroxene crystals were formed accidentally during the firing process, their formation mechanism is similar to that of tea dust glaze products in the Tang and Song dynasties. This discovery provides new clues and ideas for the study of the origin of tea dust glaze. In addition to the residual quartz particles observed in the glaze (Fig. 7 c), particles morphologically resembling unmelted kaolinite were also found (Fig. 7 d). 3.4 Analysis of Firing Temperature The ZL8 sample was selected for a thermal expansion experiment to determine its firing temperature. When the heating temperature reached the original firing temperature of the sample and heating continued, the trend of the expansion curve changed with an obvious inflection point appearing. The temperature corresponding to this inflection point can be regarded as the firing temperature of the sample. According to the test results shown in Fig. 8 , the firing temperature of the celadon from the Zhaili Kiln was 1255–1282°C, which falls within the firing temperature range of the mantou - shaped kilns in North China. However, due to the influence of the chemical composition of the ceramic body and the actual degree of sintering, the thermal expansion results need to be treated with caution. Observation of the cross - section of the ZL8 sample shows that the structure of the ceramic body is relatively rough and not sufficiently dense, indicating that the ceramic body did not achieve a fully sintered state. It follows that the actual temperature required for the Zhaili Kiln celadon to reach the ideal sintered state should be higher than this range. Discussion 4.1 Research on the Initial Ignition Motivation and Age of Zhaili Kiln Celadon During the Northern Dynasties, powerful aristocratic clans dominated. Any regime, whether established by the Han or northern ethnic groups, could hardly maintain its rule in the Central Plains without the support of local aristocratic clans [ 12 ] . Tang Changru, in his study "The Qingqi Tumin of the Northern Wei Dynasty" (北魏的青齐土民), conducted an in-depth investigation into the formation and developmental causes of the local Qingqi regional power groups [ 13 ] . Such a social power structure profoundly influenced the orientation of handicraft production. Against this background, the initial ignition of the Zhaili Kiln was driven by the practical demands of the aristocratic clans. Existing archaeological materials indicate that the Cui clan of Qinghe may have promoted the production of celadon at the Zhaili Kiln. The Northern Dynasties Cui clan cemetery in Linzi was excavated twice, uncovering nineteen tombs dating from the Northern Wei to the Northern Qi [ 14 ][ 15 ] . Celadon wares unearthed from the tombs of Cui You, Cui Hun, and others reflect the family’s preference for such objects. As an aristocratic clan with a long-standing historical heritage, the Cui clan possessed not only strong economic strength and prominent political status but also outstanding cultural standing. Cultural status formed the foundation for aristocratic clans to maintain family education and official careers. On this basis, the Cui clan’s fondness for celadon and even its support for local production were underpinned by sufficient social and cultural conditions. In addition, inscriptions on kiln furniture also suggest that the production mode of the Zhaili Kiln bore certain characteristics of manorial economy. The fact that the Zhaili Kiln in Zibo was the first to produce celadon in Shandong resulted from multiple factors. On the one hand, it was related to Zibo’s location as a local political and economic center. During the reign of the Liu Song dynasty, Qinghe Commandery was established here as a qiaozhi (transplanted) administrative region. In the Huangxing period of the Northern Wei, after the Wei conquered Qingqi, it was renamed East Qinghe Commandery, with its seat at Panyang City (present-day Zichuan District, Zibo), and this arrangement remained unchanged throughout the Northern Wei [ 16 ] . According to Book of Wei, aristocratic clans such as the Cui and Fang families were mostly active in this area. It can also be observed from other early celadon production centers in northern China that kiln sites were mostly located near political or economic centers.On the other hand, Zibo lies in an outcrop area of Carboniferous-Permian coal-bearing strata [ 17 ] , with abundant coal-series kaolin, providing an important raw material foundation for porcelain making. Driven by these combined factors, the emergence of Zhaili Kiln celadon was a natural outcome. Regarding the date of its initial production, there is still no scholarly consensus due to the lack of stratigraphic information from excavations. Based on a preliminary assessment of the forms and firing techniques of the wares unearthed at the kiln site, it is suggested that production likely began no earlier than the late Northern Wei period.As mentioned above, the rise of the Zhaili Kiln was closely related to the demands of aristocratic clans, whose status in the Northern Dynasties was not static. The fifty-five years of Liu Song rule over Qingqi was a period when the local aristocratic clans expanded their power and became fully localized [ 18 ] ; most clan members held local offices and enjoyed extremely high status. After the Northern Wei conquered Qingqi during the Huangxing period, many Qingqi aristocrats were relocated to Daijing, known as Pingqi People, and their influence was temporarily weakened. However, the Qingqi aristocratic clans did not collapse.Following the Taihe reforms of Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei, the Qingqi aristocratic clans regained power. Most clan members returned to Qingqi and remained the most powerful local magnates. In particular, after the Cui clan was listed as one of the five great clans by Emperor Xiaowen, it gradually entered the core of the Northern Wei ruling group, and its family influence further expanded. With the social and economic recovery and growing material demands promoted by Emperor Xiaowen’s reforms, the Zhaili Kiln was most likely established after the Qingqi aristocrats returned to their homeland during the Taihe period of the Northern Wei. It should be noted that the attribution of celadon unearthed from the Cui clan cemetery is of great significance for determining the initial ignition date of the Zhaili Kiln. Most scholars hold that the Zhaili Kiln had already begun producing celadon by the Eastern Wei at the latest, based on the morphological features of the celadon bowl unearthed from the Eastern Wei tomb of Cui Hun in Linzi. However, whether this object was produced at the Zhaili Kiln still requires final confirmation through scientific analysis. Therefore, conducting systematic scientific and technical research on the celadon wares unearthed from related burial grounds, such as the Cui Family Cemetery, is an important approach to determining the date of the initial production at the Zhaili kiln. 4.2 Analysis of the Technological Origin of Zhaili Kiln Celadon The above scientific analyses provide a basis for re-examining the origin of celadon at the Zhaili Kiln. According to available archaeological data, the academic community generally holds that the emergence of northern celadon was related to the introduction of southern porcelain-making techniques. However, there remains controversy over whether the porcelain-making technology of the Zhaili Kiln was directly influenced by southern celadon techniques or derived from the technology of the Baihe Kiln in Gongyi [ 19 ] . Xiong Haitang introduced the theory of cultural exchange levels into the study of ceramic technology, arguing that technological exchange belongs to the sub-deep layer of cultural exchange. In practical application, he stratified the difficulty of technology adoption in the following order: forming techniques, decorative techniques, formula techniques, firing-support techniques, and kiln structure techniques. Techniques such as forming and decoration could potentially be imitated through observing the appearance of objects, without direct communication between craftsmen. In contrast, formula, firing-support, and kiln technologies could only be realized through direct instruction between kiln workers [ 20 ] . The kiln workers at the Zhaili Kiln used plant ash as a flux in the glaze formulation. Such a glazing technique must have been acquired through instruction by southern kiln artisans. Meanwhile, researchers have conducted scientific analyses on Northern Wei celadon excavated from the Baihe Kiln in Gongyi [ 21 ] . Comparison with Zhaili Kiln celadon shows considerable differences in body and glaze formulas between the two [Table 5], indicating distinct porcelain-making technologies. Therefore, the porcelain-making technology of the Zhaili Kiln should have been directly influenced by southern celadon techniques. The special geographical conditions of the Qingqi region provided a favorable foundation for the direct introduction of southern celadon technology. After the Western Jin Dynasty, this area was long on the frontier of confrontation between the northern and southern regimes, with frequent wars and high social mobility. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the Qingqi region successively came under the rule of the Liu Song and the Northern Wei. Despite regime changes, its geographical proximity to the Southern Dynasties and its history of being ruled by the Southern Dynasties allowed the region to remain continuously influenced by southern culture. In addition, many members of the powerful aristocratic clans in the Qingqi region served as officials in both the north and the south, acting to some extent as a link for economic and cultural exchange between the north and the south. This further promoted the northward transmission of southern porcelain-making technology. Conclusion The celadon production technology at Zhaili Kiln never reached full maturity from the late Northern Dynasties to the Tang Dynasty, which is mainly reflected in the following aspects.First, the unstable control of the firing atmosphere in the kiln led to variations in body color, affecting the uniformity of the product appearance. Second, the coal-series kaolin used for the body contained high contents of impurities such as iron and titanium, which were difficult to remove completely due to limitations in elutriation technology. As a result, impurities in the body were clearly visible. Since the glaze layer was relatively thin, it could not effectively cover the body defects, thus restricting the overall quality. Third, the relatively high CaO content and low K₂O content in the glaze resulted in low melt viscosity, causing significant glaze flow during firing. The glaze surface often exhibited an uneven, patchy distribution.These technological limitations collectively restricted the improvement of celadon quality at Zhaili Kiln. The contents of SiO₂, Al₂O₃, and fluxing agents in the porcelain bodies of Zhaili Kiln have undergone almost no substantial changes. It indicates that both raw-material selection and technological recipes remained stable without marked alteration. The bodies were produced using a local “two-component” (binary) formula—Zibo DaQing-soil blended with added quartz—intended to raise the SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio and thereby lower the required firing temperature. The impurities present in the bodies reflect the characteristics of Zibo’s coal-associated kaolinitic clays and also indicate that processes of raw-material selection and elutriation were far from refined. Kiln furniture and vessel bodies display only minor elemental differences, derive from the same source, and show evidence of repeated reuse. The high Fe 2 O 3 content in the glazes indicates that the glaze formulation technology at the Zhaili kiln possessed its own unique characteristics: substantial quantities of iron-rich raw materials were added to the glaze recipe in order to imitate the glaze color of southern celadon. This practice represents a significant feature of Zhaili's glaze preparation technology and also reflects the innovative outcomes of northern kiln technology. Meanwhile, the use of plant ash glaze formulas demonstrates the technological exchange between northern and southern ceramic industries. The relatively oxidizing kiln atmosphere typical of northern kilns prevented the Zhaili celadon glazes from achieving the green hue characteristic of southern celadon. The combined effect of the high CaO, Fe 2 O 3 , and TiO 2 content in the glazes, along with the kiln's firing atmosphere, resulted in thin glassy glazes that predominantly appear yellowish-brown or greenish-brown in tone. Declarations Author Contribution All authors listed on this submission have made substantial contributions to the work. The specific division of labor is as follows: Author Xuelin.Xu and Author Yu are mainly responsible for the core content of the paper, leading the conception of the research topic and overall framework design, deeply analyzing experimental data and interpreting the porcelain-making techniques of Zhaili Kiln celadon, drafting the initial manuscript and critically revising it for key intellectual content, and controlling the research viewpoints and logic of the full text. Author Yu and Author Li and Author Sihan.Xu are responsible for experimental-related work, including the collection and pretreatment of celadon and kiln furniture samples from Zhaili Kiln spanning the Northern Dynasties to the Tang Dynasty, performing various experimental operations such as chemical composition testing and firing temperature measurement of samples, and undertaking data collection, sorting and preliminary analysis. Author Cui coordinated the research progress, supervised the whole process of experimental implementation and paper writing, participated in manuscript revision and academic review, and controlled the rigor of the research. All listed authors have made substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work, or the analysis/interpretation of data, approved the version to be published, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. References Compilation Group of Zibo Ceramic History, Shandong Provincial Museum. Survey summary of the Northern Dynasties celadon kiln site at Zhaili, Zibo, Shandong. (Ed.), Collected Reports on Surveys and Excavations of Ancient Kiln Sites in China. Beijing: Cultural Relics; 1984. pp. 352–8. Editorial Committee of Cultural Relics. Since only trial excavations have been carried out at the Zhaili. Kiln, the stratigraphic relationships of the site remain unclear. Therefore, the summary of the porcelain characteristics of the Zhaili Kiln in different periods (as presented in the conclusion) can only be used as a reference, and cannot serve as a specific basis for dating. The Chinese Society of Silicate. History of Chinese Ceramics. Beijing: Cultural Relics; 1982. p. 163. Huang S, Freestone IC, Zhu Y, Shen L. The introduction of celadon production in North China: Technical characteristic and diversity of the earliest wares. J Archaeol Sci. 2020;114:105057. Guo MQ. Study on Porcelain from the Northern Dynasties to the Sui Dynasty in Shandong Region. Shandong: Shandong University; 2021. pp. 58–82. Geng C, Shen JY, Lang JF, Chen ZL, Lu C, Liu W. Multiple-analytical study on the technology of Zhaili celadon from the late sixth to the seventh centuries and its initiation. Archaeol Anthropol Sci. 2024;16:191. Lin SM. Summary of Ceramic Mineral Raw Materials in Shandong. Jinan: Shandong Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources; 1991. p. 91. Compilation Committee of Shandong Provincial Geology and Mineral Resources Records. Records of Geology and Mineral Resources in Shandong Province. Jinan: Shandong Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources; 1992. p. 138. Luo HJ, Li JZ, Gao LM. 1995. Classification standards for calcium-based glazes in ancient Chinese porcelain and their application in glaze research. Bull Chin Ceram Soc, (2): 51. Li JZ. History of Science and Technology in China: Ceramic Volume. Beijing: Science; 1998. p. 123. Zhang FK. The Science of Ancient Chinese Ceramics. Shanghai: Shanghai People's Fine Arts Publishing House; 1998. p. 90. Zhao KQ, Ma X. General History of Shandong: Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties Volume. Jinan: Shandong People's Publishing House; 1994. Tang CR. Essays on the History of the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties. Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company; 1983. pp. 93–123. Su YQ, Jiang YK. 1984. The Cui Family Tomb of the Northern Dynasties at Linzi. Acta Archaeologica Sinica (2):221–44. Zhang GM, Li J. 1985. Second Excavation简报of the Cui Family Cemetery of the Northern Dynasties at Linzi. Archaeology (3):216–221. Wei S. (Northern Qi Dynasty). 1974. Book of Wei, vol 160. Zhonghua Book Company, Beijing, p 2525. Liu J, Liang HD. 2024. Natural Conditions for the Rise of Ancient Porcelain Kilns in North China During the Tang and Song Dynasties: The Outcropping of Coal-Bearing Strata. Coal Geol China (1):15. Ibid. [13]. Yang JY, Li P, Zhu SS. 2024. An Analysis of the Origins of Ceramic Production at the Zhaili Kiln in Zibo During the Northern Dynasties. China Ceram (8):105–11. Xiong HT. Studies on the History of Technological Development and Exchange in East Asian Kiln Industry. Nanjing: Nanjing University; 1995. p. 12. Ma Y, Ma QL, Ma HJ. 2018. A Study on the Raw Material Sources of Porcelain Unearthed from the Gongyi Kiln in Henan and the Xing Kiln in Hebei: Taking the Celadon and White Porcelain Produced During the Northern Dynasties and the Sui-Tang Period as Examples. Sci Conserv Archaeol (5):95. Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-9136334","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":606798120,"identity":"7728c7ab-881a-4502-ae99-d81d01e8d67f","order_by":0,"name":"Xuelin Xu","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA8ElEQVRIiWNgGAWjYNCCAgkGNvbmAwc+ANls7ERpMZBg4OM5lvhwBkgLM3FaGBjkJHKMjXlAHEJaDG7kmEl8MLDIY5NIS5O2+bVNno+ZgfHDxxzcWiRnpKVJzjCQKGbjeXxMOrfvtmEbMwOz5MxtuLXwSyQfk+YxkEhsYwfakttzmxGohY2ZF48WNqBi6T8gLQw5ZtKWPbftCWoB28IA0sIB9D7Dj9uJBLVI9jxLtuwBaQEFcm/D7eQ2ZsZmvH4xOJ5jeONHRV3i/HZgVP74c9sWyDj44SMeLaiAsQ1MNhCrHgT+kKJ4FIyCUTAKRgoAAAXdSzsZqAv3AAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","orcid":"","institution":"Liaoning Normal University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Xuelin","middleName":"","lastName":"Xu","suffix":""},{"id":606798121,"identity":"813e1376-8c6d-406b-b779-48a85408d6e7","order_by":1,"name":"Yang Yu","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Liaoning Normal University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yang","middleName":"","lastName":"Yu","suffix":""},{"id":606798128,"identity":"59671d52-afb4-42e9-a2a0-2ecac29d3846","order_by":2,"name":"Jianfeng Cui","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Peking University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jianfeng","middleName":"","lastName":"Cui","suffix":""},{"id":606798130,"identity":"aa3c8945-97dd-428e-85c0-24301de6d48b","order_by":3,"name":"Xiaoshuang Li","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Peking University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Xiaoshuang","middleName":"","lastName":"Li","suffix":""},{"id":606798132,"identity":"297d2eac-8499-40c8-9c6b-b294ff7a94fb","order_by":4,"name":"SIhan Xu","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Liaoning Normal University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"SIhan","middleName":"","lastName":"Xu","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-03-16 10:10:34","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9136334/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9136334/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":105362037,"identity":"4c4de40b-4640-473f-8490-10d7b27cce05","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-25 08:06:54","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":2264692,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003ePhotos of Partial Porcelain Shards and Kiln Furniture from Zaili Kiln\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"image1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9136334/v1/89b6d923ad08a4e161dfe6bc.png"},{"id":105362028,"identity":"3fafa926-7c39-4b80-aec9-70453531c872","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-25 08:06:50","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":67227,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eSiO₂-Al\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3 \u003c/sub\u003eScatter Plot of Porcelain Bodies and Kiln Furniture Bodies\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"image2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9136334/v1/ccfa672a541eef953e73e2e3.png"},{"id":105362034,"identity":"d9bfc6af-b518-423b-bcf0-d8a0ad764c4e","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-25 08:06:51","extension":"png","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":76910,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eTiO\u003csub\u003e2 - \u003c/sub\u003eFe\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003eScatter Plot of Porcelain Bodies and Kiln Furniture Bodies\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"image3.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9136334/v1/a4340dea81ea8402e7558a9d.png"},{"id":105362029,"identity":"f9b6c6f8-1362-4f4d-b99e-bb35b37de158","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-25 08:06:50","extension":"png","order_by":4,"title":"Figure 4","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":15434,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eSiO₂-Al\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003eScatter Plot of Porcelain Bodies and Glazes\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"image4.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9136334/v1/e4714f43e8b75558a398e976.png"},{"id":105362035,"identity":"a04ba35b-ac8e-41fe-8464-07217b8abce4","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-25 08:06:51","extension":"png","order_by":5,"title":"Figure 5","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":3136565,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eMicrostructure of Ceramic Bodies and Kiln Furniture in Partial Samples\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"image5.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9136334/v1/57a604ef9d93d7cc91af94dd.png"},{"id":105362031,"identity":"f5ef9516-426e-46cb-b304-a3db06aee859","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-25 08:06:50","extension":"png","order_by":6,"title":"Figure 6","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":3235936,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eMicrostructure of Glazes in Partial Samples\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"image6.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9136334/v1/b0eb77f930ee07e09ab9366a.png"},{"id":105362032,"identity":"cde97dd3-e3fe-4ebc-96e7-834ea98ac41e","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-25 08:06:50","extension":"png","order_by":7,"title":"Figure 7","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":3660366,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eMicrostructure of the Glaze Layer of ZL1 Sample\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"image7.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9136334/v1/ad5e096d5aea721330d28919.png"},{"id":105362030,"identity":"a7e0f3d8-b3a4-4502-9b00-9453737de9a7","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-03-25 08:06:50","extension":"png","order_by":8,"title":"Figure 8","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":65098,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eFiring Temperature Curve of ZL8 Sample\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"image8.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9136334/v1/2e4a00c30b84fd94632743a4.png"},{"id":108803543,"identity":"f8563e0c-fe8b-4403-893a-7421f5bd5350","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-05-08 14:59:17","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":12547602,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-9136334/v1/b0e2d0df-c015-4dd7-b225-3bdebe0f9ae4.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Scientific and Technological Analysis of Zhaili Kiln Celadon from Late Northern Dynasties to the Tang","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe Zhaili kiln complex is located just over ten kilometers east of the urban area of Zichuan District, Zibo City, Shandong Province, and comprises four kiln sites: Shundaodi, Dazhang, Tianshuijing, and Jinpendi. The site was first identified by local cultural authorities during a 1957 cultural relics survey; from 1976 to 1977 the Shandong Zibo Ceramic History Editorial Group, the Shandong Museum, and other institutions re-examined and conducted trial excavations at the Zhaili kilns\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e, dividing the excavated ceramics into three groups whose chronologies correspond to Eastern Wei, Northern Qi through the Sui, and the middle\u0026ndash;late Tang, and preliminarily summarizing the principal characteristics of wares from each period\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Production at Zhaili was dominated by celadon, accompanied by smaller quantities of biscuit-fired (unglazed) wares and lead-glazed ceramics. Common vessel forms include bowls, jars, basins, lids, and plates; the kilns employed pillar cushions, three-pronged supports, and multi-toothed supports as kiln furniture. As one of the earliest northern centers for celadon production\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e, Zhaili is significant for studying the origins of this craft in the north. Its technology was transmitted from the south and then locally adapted through the innovation of local kiln workers using regional raw materials.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eZhaili kiln celadon has long been overlooked in academic circles. On one hand, due to the lack of systematic excavation, it is difficult to accurately grasp the characteristics of celadon from different periods, making typological analysis unfeasible. On the other hand, the quality of Zhaili kiln celadon still lagged behind that of Southern celadon from the same period, which further contributed to its neglect. In recent years, however, with the continuous development of ceramic scientific archaeology, there has been a growing body of scientific research focused on the Zhaili Kiln. Huang S. etal. were among the first to conduct microstructural observations and chemical compositional analyses of Zhaili celadons\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Guo Meiqing provided a preliminary analysis of Zhaili celadon ceramic technology from the Northern Dynasties through the Sui\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Chao Geng. et al. have discussed the manufacturing techniques and developmental drivers of Zhaili celadon\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Yet these studies have not compared the wares with local Zibo raw materials nor subjected the kiln furniture to technological analysis. The present study therefore investigates the origin and manufacturing technology of Zhaili celadon from the perspectives of body and glaze composition and firing temperature, combined with a comparative analysis of ceramic raw materials from the Zibo region.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Experimental Samples","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study selects 15 celadon samples and 4 kiln furniture samples from the Zhaili kiln as the research objects. The celadon samples are numbered ZL1 to ZL15, and the kiln furniture samples are numbered ZL16 to ZL19. All samples were provided by the Zichuan Museum. Only sample ZL1 can be definitively dated to the late Northern Dynasties period; the other samples date from the late Northern Dynasties to the Tang Dynasty, but their specific chronology cannot be determined by means of typology or glaze and body characteristics.Celadon shards are mainly porcelain bowl fragments. Kiln tools include trident-shaped supports and multi-tooth supports. Some of the specimens are shown below (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Analytical methods and instruments","content":"\u003cp\u003eAll analyses were carried out in the Laboratory for Scientific Archaeology, School of Archaeology and Museology, Peking University. The analytical protocol comprised energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and thermal expansion measurements.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBody and glaze composition analysis were determined by ED-XRF and SEM-EDS. ED-XRF measurements were performed on a Horiba (Horiba, Inc., Japan) XGT-7000 energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. Analytical conditions were: X-ray incident spot diameter 1.2 mm; X-ray tube voltage 30 kV; X-ray tube current 0.029 mA; data acquisition time 100 s. Each specimen was measured at 2\u0026ndash;3 points and the average value was taken.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSEM-EDS observations were made with a Hitachi TM3030 tabletop scanning electron microscope. Samples were mounted in epoxy resin, ground with sandpaper, and polished prior to insertion into the TM3030 chamber; cross-sections of glaze and body were photographed and element distribution maps were obtained by EDS to support microstructural compositional analysis.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFiring temperatures were estimated by thermal expansion. Measurements were carried out on a NETZSCH (Germany) DIL 806 optical dilatometer. Ceramic shards were prepared as test specimens and heated in the dilatometer at a rate of 10\u0026deg;C/min to between 1100\u0026deg;C and 1350\u0026deg;C while the change in specimen length as a function of temperature was recorded.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Analysis of the compositional results of porcelain bodies and glazes","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec5\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.1 Analysis of Porcelain Body Composition\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe results of the major elements in the sample matrix obtained by ED-XRF testing are shown in [Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eChemical Compositions of the Celadon and Kiln Furniture Bodies from Zhaili Kiln (Unit: wt%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"10\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c10\" colnum=\"10\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSample No\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNa\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMgO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAl\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eK\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCaO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMnO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFe\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eZL1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.82\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.92\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25.73\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e67.56\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.64\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.66\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.02\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.67\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eZL2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.83\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.39\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e69.17\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.46\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.38\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.83\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.96\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eZL3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.85\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.53\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23.73\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e70.55\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.33\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.43\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.95\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.63\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eZL4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.80\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.39\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25.57\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e67.10\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.70\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.63\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.90\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.93\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eZL5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.86\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.47\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23.32\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e70.68\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.48\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.57\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.64\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eZL6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.87\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.41\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23.43\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e70.54\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.57\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.48\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.84\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.87\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eZL7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.86\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.41\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22.10\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e71.98\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.41\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.84\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.91\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eZL8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.86\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.46\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23.69\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e69.35\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.42\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.62\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.72\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.91\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eZL9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.86\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.57\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23.17\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e71.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.45\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.39\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.89\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.69\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eZL10\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.87\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.41\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23.94\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e70.15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.45\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.87\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.81\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eZL11\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.83\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.51\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23.42\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e70.63\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.74\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.46\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.93\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eZL12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.83\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.46\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24.54\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e69.64\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.48\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.39\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.74\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.94\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eZL13\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.87\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.54\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22.78\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e70.82\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.63\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.46\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.88\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.05\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eZL14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.90\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.51\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21.80\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e71.34\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.72\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.05\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.82\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.89\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eZL15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.86\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.72\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23.04\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e70.81\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.48\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.33\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.83\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.95\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eZL16\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.86\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.46\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22.65\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e71.19\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.66\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.47\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.83\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.89\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eZL17\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.87\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.88\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21.84\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e71.45\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.54\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.79\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.83\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.82\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eZL18\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.87\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.75\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22.52\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e71.25\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.55\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.52\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.85\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.70\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eZL19\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.88\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22.42\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e71.19\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.45\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.78\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.84\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.95\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePorcelain Body Average\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.85\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.58\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23.68\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e70.09\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.53\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.52\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.87\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.89\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eKiln Furniture Average\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.87\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.65\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22.36\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e71.27\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.55\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.64\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.84\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.84\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eFigure\u0026nbsp;3\u003c/b\u003e. TiO\u003csub\u003e2 \u0026minus;\u003c/sub\u003e Fe\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003eScatter Plot of Porcelain Bodies and Kiln Furniture Bodies\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eChemical Compositions of Porcelain - making Raw Materials in Zibo Area (Unit: wt%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"10\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c10\" colnum=\"10\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRaw Material Name\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNa\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMgO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAl\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eK\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCaO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFe\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIL\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNanQing soil\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.23\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.32\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30.69\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e53.50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.52\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.69\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.03\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.62\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eJiaHuang soil\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026mdash;\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.87\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e32.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e50.51\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026mdash;\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.04\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.76\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.64\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDaQing soil\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026mdash;\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.46\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25.68\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e61.04\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026mdash;\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.18\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.09\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.89\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.11\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDiBan soil\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026mdash;\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.96\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23.83\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e59.71\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026mdash;\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.06\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.49\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYao soil\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026mdash;\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.85\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e63.25\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026mdash;\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.19\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.58\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.35\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAccording to the ED-XRF results (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e), the chemical composition of the Zhaili celadon bodies exhibits the following characteristics: SiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e ranges from 67.10% to 71.98% (mean 70.09%); Al\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e ranges from 21.80% to 25.73% (mean 23.68%). In general, kaolin or high‑alumina clay was used for porcelain production in northern China,. The Al₂O₃ content in the porcelain bodies was mostly higher than 25%. The average Al₂O₃ content of the porcelain bodies from the Zhaili Kiln was 23.68%, generally lower. Accordingly, the SiO₂ content in the porcelain bodies was relatively high.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA comparison between the Zhaili body averages and the chemical compositions of ceramic raw materials from the Zibo area (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e) shows that the composition of the daqing-tu most closely matches the Zhaili bodies\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e, particularly with respect to Fe\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e and TiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e. Daqing-soil is a sedimentary, soft clay with relatively high aluminum content; it is mainly distributed around Shantou, Weitou River, and the Majiazhuang area of Zibo, occurs as an associate of coal seams and is readily exploitable. Its source areas are geographically proximate to the Zhaili kilns\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e, which together indicate that daqing-tu was likely the principal clay used at Zhaili. However, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e records a SiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e content for Daqing-soil of only 61.04%, markedly lower than the SiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e measured in the Zhaili bodies; this disparity suggests that a high-silica material was added to the clay bodies, which would also lower the relative Al\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e proportion in the finished body. The presence and nature of any supplemental high-silica additions should be further investigated by microstructural analysis of the ceramic bodies.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe bodies of the kiln-furniture from Zhaili show SiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e contents of 71.19\u0026ndash;71.45% (mean 71.27%) and Al\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e contents of 21.84\u0026ndash;22.65% (mean 22.36%). As with the ceramic bodies (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e), the kiln-furniture bodies display generally high SiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e and relatively low Al\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e; the bulk elemental concentrations differ little between the two groups and their compositional ranges largely overlap, indicating that the kiln furniture and the ceramic bodies were sourced from the same raw material. This contrasts with early southern celadon production (for example at Yue kilns), where clear differences exist between the body clays used for vessels and those used for kiln furniture. Moreover, the distribution of the Zhaili kiln-furniture data is tightly clustered with low dispersion, suggesting a stable and consistent source for the kiln-furniture clay.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Zhaili celadon bodies contain Fe\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e in the range 1.50\u0026ndash;2.91% (mean 1.89%) and TiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e in the range 0.72\u0026ndash;1.02% (mean 0.87%). Except for a few outliers, Fe\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e concentrations in the bodies are relatively concentrated (Fig.\u0026nbsp;3), and the Fe\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e and TiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e distributions for the kiln-furniture bodies essentially overlap the ranges observed for the vessel bodies. Fe\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e and TiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e are among the key factors influencing the coloration of porcelain bodies. Compared to early southern celadon, the Fe\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e and TiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e content in the porcelain bodies of Zhaili Kiln is relatively low, which explains the predominantly grayish-white appearance of most specimens. However, the frequent presence of dark speckles or spots in the body suggests that raw materials likely underwent processing such as sorting and levigation to reduce impurity levels, though these measures fell short of thorough refinement. A small portion of the porcelain bodies exhibits a reddish-brown hue, attributable to the kiln masters' incomplete control over the firing atmosphere, resulting in predominantly oxidizing conditions within the kiln.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec6\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.2 Analysis of Porcelain Glaze Component Results\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe results of the major elements in the sample glazes obtained by ED-XRF testing are shown in [Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe chemical composition of Zhaili celadon glazes is shown in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e: SiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e is mostly in the range 58\u0026ndash;62%, with some samples as low as 54.05%; Al\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e varies more widely from 12.54% to 18.26% (mean 14.96%). The scatter plot of body and glaze SiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e\u0026ndash;Al\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e) reveals a degree of parallelism between body and glaze distributions, and TiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e concentrations are similar in body and glaze, indicating that the clay used for body preparation may also have served as the base formula for glazes. CaO in the glazes is relatively high\u0026mdash;above 10% in most cases (mean 13.68%)\u0026mdash;while Na\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO and K\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO are comparatively low. Using the Ca-based glaze classification criteria proposed by Luo Hongjie et al., the average value of RO/(RO+R\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO) in the glazes exceeds 0.76, indicating that Zhaili celadon glazes follow a calcium-rich (Ca-type) glaze formulation\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Because of the high CaO and low K\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO, the glazes exhibit large changes in high-temperature viscosity and fluidity with temperature; their molten viscosity is relatively poor and glaze running is pronounced. Consequently, glaze surfaces often display patchy areas of uneven thickness, interior bases commonly have thick, darkened glaze layers, and exteriors frequently show tear-like drip streaks.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eChemical Compositions of the Celadon Glazes from Zhaili Kiln (Unit: wt%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"10\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c10\" colnum=\"10\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSample No\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNa\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMgO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAl\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eK\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCaO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMnO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFe\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e 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colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.99\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eZL3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.86\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.31\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e62.14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.66\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.68\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e 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char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.62\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.10\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.31\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eZL6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.81\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.59\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e17.34\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e61.35\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e 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char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.38\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.56\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.87\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eZL9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.86\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.58\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.79\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e 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char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.77\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e60.81\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.31\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.78\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.72\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.09\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.99\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eZL12\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.86\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.68\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.18\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e61.19\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.43\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.51\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.63\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.11\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.44\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eZL13\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.87\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.10\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e60.07\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.49\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.84\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.08\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.41\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eZL14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.85\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.18\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16.74\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e61.27\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.05\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.69\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.09\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.02\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eZL15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.84\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.67\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.09\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e60.43\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.83\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13.65\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.60\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.17\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.44\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFor celadon glazes, the main coloring elements are iron and titanium. The Fe\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e content of Zhaili glazes is markedly higher than that of contemporaneous southern celadons: southern glazes typically show Fe\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e around ~\u0026thinsp;2%\u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e, whereas ED-XRF measurements indicate an average Fe\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e in Zhaili glazes approaching 5%, with some samples reaching as high as 9.89%.In the production of southern celadon, the raw materials themselves were sufficient to produce a green glaze without the addition of extra iron. In contrast, kiln workers at Zhaili actively added iron-rich materials during glaze formulation, indicating that they had recognized iron as the key element responsible for the celadon color. This practice suggests a deliberate intention to imitate the glaze appearance of southern celadon wares. Unlike southern celadons, however, Zhaili glazes tend to appear yellow-brown or greenish-brown, with a few specimens in deep brown approaching black, showing that the glaze color was unstable. When iron is the chromophore, the relative proportions of its two valence states determine whether the glaze appears yellowish or bluish; that proportion depends both on total Fe concentration and on the kiln\u0026rsquo;s firing atmosphere. During the late Northern Dynasties to the early Tang, Zhaili employed mantou kilns\u0026mdash;dome-shaped \u0026ldquo;mantou\u0026rdquo; kilns common in the Yellow River region\u0026mdash;which more readily produce oxidizing flames. A tendency toward an oxidizing kiln atmosphere therefore contributed significantly to the instability of glaze coloration.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec7\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.3 Microstructural Analysis\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eSelected representative samples were subjected to microscopic observation, revealing that the porcelain bodies generally exhibit a low degree of sintering. The body is composed of a matrix, uneven particulate matter, and pores. (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003ea, \u003cspan refid=\"Fig4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003eb). SEM\u0026ndash;EDS shows that the particulate inclusions are principally residual quartz, unsintered clay aggregates, and Fe\u0026ndash;Ti residual phases. Residual quartz is abundant and in some cases grains are large\u0026mdash;occasionally exceeding 200 \u0026micro;m. Large quartz grains typically reflect inadequate grinding or levigation of raw materials; in the Zhaili bodies these residual quartz grains may partly result from coarse preparation, but are more likely to derive from the intentional addition of quartzite or quartz sand to the clay.The porcelain bodies of the Zhaili Kiln were produced using local Daqing clay from the Zibo region, which typically contains a high Al₂O₃ content and therefore requires a relatively high firing temperature. The addition of quartz to the clay increases the SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio in the body, thereby effectively lowering the required firing temperature. On the basis of the morphology of residual quartz and the bodies\u0026rsquo; high SiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e content, these coarse quartz grains should therefore be interpreted as added quartzite or quartz sand rather than intrinsic to the clay.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMoreover, in part of the ZL1 body there is evidence of apparent glaze residue (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003ec). SEM\u0026ndash;EDS analysis shows that the basic composition of this area differs from the surrounding body and more closely resembles the glaze [Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e]. Large blocky high-calcium crystals were also observed in this zone [Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e], and their precipitation further demonstrates that calcium-bearing materials were added to the glaze recipe. The presence of glaze in parts of the body is attributed to insufficient firing temperature and high water absorption of the body, which caused pores within the body to absorb part of the glaze. This also accounts for the uneven thickness and patchy distribution observed on the glaze surface.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMicroscopic observation of the kiln furniture indicates that its microstructure does not differ markedly from that of the vessel bodies, but the degree of sintering is generally higher in the kiln furniture (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003ed): residual quartz is less abundant and the matrix shows better vitrification, although appreciable Fe\u0026ndash;Ti residual phases and other impurities remain. As consumable items in ceramic production, kiln furniture would have been reused repeatedly; this repeated use likely promoted progressive sintering of the supports over multiple firings, yielding the comparatively higher sintering observed microscopically. Because both kiln furniture and vessel bodies derive from the same raw material, and because the kiln furniture contains high-silica quartz grains and correspondingly high SiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e, the supports prove durable under repeated firing and are thus able to sinter progressively without rapid degradation. This circumstance also indirectly indicates that the clay resources for body production at Zhaili were readily accessible and inexpensive.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMicroscopic observation of the glazes reveals that the glaze layer of Zhaili kiln celadon is relatively thin, with most samples having a glaze thickness of less than 300 \u0026micro;m. During actual observation, the body color of most samples was found to affect their apparent coloration. The microstructure of different celadon glazes shows notable variation. As shown in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003eb and \u003cspan refid=\"Fig5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003ed, most glazes are highly vitrified, exhibiting no residual quartz or other crystals, containing only a few bubbles; the glaze\u0026ndash;body interface is well bonded and a small amount of amphodelite crystallization occurs at the boundary. By contrast, some celadon glazes retain residual quartz and other crystals: Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003ea and \u003cspan refid=\"Fig5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003ec show glazes containing unmelted quartz, and in some samples residual quartz grains exceed 70 \u0026micro;m in size. Burial-related corrosion affects the glaze in some sherds. Further analysis using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM\u0026mdash;EDS) revealed that the glaze layers all contained a relatively high content of P₂O₅ [Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e], it is a typical plant ash glaze formula.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab4\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEnergy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) Results of ZL1 Celadon Samples (Unit: wt%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"11\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c10\" colnum=\"10\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c11\" colnum=\"11\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eZL1-Suspected Glaze Material\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNa\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMgO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAl\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eP\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e5\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eK\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCaO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMnO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFe\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.60\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.48\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.90\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e44.77\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.70\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.84\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24.79\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.02\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.87\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.03\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eZL1-High-Calcium Crystals\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.03\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.79\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.80\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20.20\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.63\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.48\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e57.71\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026mdash;\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.21\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGlaze Layer Average\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.15\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.81\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16.70\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e57.10\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.57\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.39\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.06\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.99\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.09\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.14\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eZL1-Rhombic Crystals\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.39\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.42\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.99\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e41.87\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.29\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.21\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23.88\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.04\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.56\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c11\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.35\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eParticularly noteworthy among the present assemblage is ZL1. This specimen is an underfired (bisque) piece whose glaze is not fully vitrified and therefore preserves primary information about the glaze recipe. Figure\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003ea shows that the ZL1 glaze contains a variety of crystalline phases, including unmelted quartz, amphodelite, and rhombic crystals. Further SEM\u0026ndash;EDS analysis of the ZL1 glaze (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig6\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003ea, \u003cspan refid=\"Fig6\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003eb) indicates that the rhombic crystals are high-silica, high-calcium phases that also contain measurable Mg and Fe [Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e]; It is initially speculated that the precipitated rhombic crystals are pyroxene type. Pyroxene is a general term for a series of minerals belonging to the pyroxene group, with a relatively complex composition \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. The precipitation of pyroxene crystals in the glaze layer of ZL1 is related to the large amount of iron-containing raw materials added to the glaze, and results from the reaction and crystallization of elements such as iron, magnesium, and silicon under specific conditions. Although pyroxene crystals were formed accidentally during the firing process, their formation mechanism is similar to that of tea dust glaze products in the Tang and Song dynasties. This discovery provides new clues and ideas for the study of the origin of tea dust glaze.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn addition to the residual quartz particles observed in the glaze (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig6\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003ec), particles morphologically resembling unmelted kaolinite were also found (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig6\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003ed).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.4 Analysis of Firing Temperature\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe ZL8 sample was selected for a thermal expansion experiment to determine its firing temperature. When the heating temperature reached the original firing temperature of the sample and heating continued, the trend of the expansion curve changed with an obvious inflection point appearing. The temperature corresponding to this inflection point can be regarded as the firing temperature of the sample. According to the test results shown in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig7\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e, the firing temperature of the celadon from the Zhaili Kiln was 1255\u0026ndash;1282\u0026deg;C, which falls within the firing temperature range of the mantou - shaped kilns in North China. However, due to the influence of the chemical composition of the ceramic body and the actual degree of sintering, the thermal expansion results need to be treated with caution. Observation of the cross - section of the ZL8 sample shows that the structure of the ceramic body is relatively rough and not sufficiently dense, indicating that the ceramic body did not achieve a fully sintered state. It follows that the actual temperature required for the Zhaili Kiln celadon to reach the ideal sintered state should be higher than this range.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec10\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e4.1 Research on the Initial Ignition Motivation and Age of Zhaili Kiln Celadon\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eDuring the Northern Dynasties, powerful aristocratic clans dominated. Any regime, whether established by the Han or northern ethnic groups, could hardly maintain its rule in the Central Plains without the support of local aristocratic clans \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Tang Changru, in his study \"The Qingqi Tumin of the Northern Wei Dynasty\" (北魏的青齐土民), conducted an in-depth investigation into the formation and developmental causes of the local Qingqi regional power groups \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Such a social power structure profoundly influenced the orientation of handicraft production. Against this background, the initial ignition of the Zhaili Kiln was driven by the practical demands of the aristocratic clans.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eExisting archaeological materials indicate that the Cui clan of Qinghe may have promoted the production of celadon at the Zhaili Kiln. The Northern Dynasties Cui clan cemetery in Linzi was excavated twice, uncovering nineteen tombs dating from the Northern Wei to the Northern Qi \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e][\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Celadon wares unearthed from the tombs of Cui You, Cui Hun, and others reflect the family\u0026rsquo;s preference for such objects. As an aristocratic clan with a long-standing historical heritage, the Cui clan possessed not only strong economic strength and prominent political status but also outstanding cultural standing. Cultural status formed the foundation for aristocratic clans to maintain family education and official careers. On this basis, the Cui clan\u0026rsquo;s fondness for celadon and even its support for local production were underpinned by sufficient social and cultural conditions. In addition, inscriptions on kiln furniture also suggest that the production mode of the Zhaili Kiln bore certain characteristics of manorial economy.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe fact that the Zhaili Kiln in Zibo was the first to produce celadon in Shandong resulted from multiple factors. On the one hand, it was related to Zibo\u0026rsquo;s location as a local political and economic center. During the reign of the Liu Song dynasty, Qinghe Commandery was established here as a qiaozhi (transplanted) administrative region. In the Huangxing period of the Northern Wei, after the Wei conquered Qingqi, it was renamed East Qinghe Commandery, with its seat at Panyang City (present-day Zichuan District, Zibo), and this arrangement remained unchanged throughout the Northern Wei \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. According to Book of Wei, aristocratic clans such as the Cui and Fang families were mostly active in this area. It can also be observed from other early celadon production centers in northern China that kiln sites were mostly located near political or economic centers.On the other hand, Zibo lies in an outcrop area of Carboniferous-Permian coal-bearing strata \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e, with abundant coal-series kaolin, providing an important raw material foundation for porcelain making. Driven by these combined factors, the emergence of Zhaili Kiln celadon was a natural outcome.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eRegarding the date of its initial production, there is still no scholarly consensus due to the lack of stratigraphic information from excavations. Based on a preliminary assessment of the forms and firing techniques of the wares unearthed at the kiln site, it is suggested that production likely began no earlier than the late Northern Wei period.As mentioned above, the rise of the Zhaili Kiln was closely related to the demands of aristocratic clans, whose status in the Northern Dynasties was not static. The fifty-five years of Liu Song rule over Qingqi was a period when the local aristocratic clans expanded their power and became fully localized \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e; most clan members held local offices and enjoyed extremely high status. After the Northern Wei conquered Qingqi during the Huangxing period, many Qingqi aristocrats were relocated to Daijing, known as Pingqi People, and their influence was temporarily weakened. However, the Qingqi aristocratic clans did not collapse.Following the Taihe reforms of Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei, the Qingqi aristocratic clans regained power. Most clan members returned to Qingqi and remained the most powerful local magnates. In particular, after the Cui clan was listed as one of the five great clans by Emperor Xiaowen, it gradually entered the core of the Northern Wei ruling group, and its family influence further expanded. With the social and economic recovery and growing material demands promoted by Emperor Xiaowen\u0026rsquo;s reforms, the Zhaili Kiln was most likely established after the Qingqi aristocrats returned to their homeland during the Taihe period of the Northern Wei.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIt should be noted that the attribution of celadon unearthed from the Cui clan cemetery is of great significance for determining the initial ignition date of the Zhaili Kiln. Most scholars hold that the Zhaili Kiln had already begun producing celadon by the Eastern Wei at the latest, based on the morphological features of the celadon bowl unearthed from the Eastern Wei tomb of Cui Hun in Linzi. However, whether this object was produced at the Zhaili Kiln still requires final confirmation through scientific analysis. Therefore, conducting systematic scientific and technical research on the celadon wares unearthed from related burial grounds, such as the Cui Family Cemetery, is an important approach to determining the date of the initial production at the Zhaili kiln.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec11\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e4.2 Analysis of the Technological Origin of Zhaili Kiln Celadon\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe above scientific analyses provide a basis for re-examining the origin of celadon at the Zhaili Kiln. According to available archaeological data, the academic community generally holds that the emergence of northern celadon was related to the introduction of southern porcelain-making techniques. However, there remains controversy over whether the porcelain-making technology of the Zhaili Kiln was directly influenced by southern celadon techniques or derived from the technology of the Baihe Kiln in Gongyi \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Xiong Haitang introduced the theory of cultural exchange levels into the study of ceramic technology, arguing that technological exchange belongs to the sub-deep layer of cultural exchange. In practical application, he stratified the difficulty of technology adoption in the following order: forming techniques, decorative techniques, formula techniques, firing-support techniques, and kiln structure techniques. Techniques such as forming and decoration could potentially be imitated through observing the appearance of objects, without direct communication between craftsmen. In contrast, formula, firing-support, and kiln technologies could only be realized through direct instruction between kiln workers \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. The kiln workers at the Zhaili Kiln used plant ash as a flux in the glaze formulation. Such a glazing technique must have been acquired through instruction by southern kiln artisans. Meanwhile, researchers have conducted scientific analyses on Northern Wei celadon excavated from the Baihe Kiln in Gongyi \u003csup\u003e[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e21\u003c/span\u003e]\u003c/sup\u003e. Comparison with Zhaili Kiln celadon shows considerable differences in body and glaze formulas between the two [Table\u0026nbsp;5], indicating distinct porcelain-making technologies. Therefore, the porcelain-making technology of the Zhaili Kiln should have been directly influenced by southern celadon techniques.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe special geographical conditions of the Qingqi region provided a favorable foundation for the direct introduction of southern celadon technology. After the Western Jin Dynasty, this area was long on the frontier of confrontation between the northern and southern regimes, with frequent wars and high social mobility. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the Qingqi region successively came under the rule of the Liu Song and the Northern Wei. Despite regime changes, its geographical proximity to the Southern Dynasties and its history of being ruled by the Southern Dynasties allowed the region to remain continuously influenced by southern culture. In addition, many members of the powerful aristocratic clans in the Qingqi region served as officials in both the north and the south, acting to some extent as a link for economic and cultural exchange between the north and the south. This further promoted the northward transmission of southern porcelain-making technology.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe celadon production technology at Zhaili Kiln never reached full maturity from the late Northern Dynasties to the Tang Dynasty, which is mainly reflected in the following aspects.First, the unstable control of the firing atmosphere in the kiln led to variations in body color, affecting the uniformity of the product appearance. Second, the coal-series kaolin used for the body contained high contents of impurities such as iron and titanium, which were difficult to remove completely due to limitations in elutriation technology. As a result, impurities in the body were clearly visible. Since the glaze layer was relatively thin, it could not effectively cover the body defects, thus restricting the overall quality. Third, the relatively high CaO content and low K₂O content in the glaze resulted in low melt viscosity, causing significant glaze flow during firing. The glaze surface often exhibited an uneven, patchy distribution.These technological limitations collectively restricted the improvement of celadon quality at Zhaili Kiln.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe contents of SiO₂, Al₂O₃, and fluxing agents in the porcelain bodies of Zhaili Kiln have undergone almost no substantial changes. It indicates that both raw-material selection and technological recipes remained stable without marked alteration. The bodies were produced using a local \u0026ldquo;two-component\u0026rdquo; (binary) formula\u0026mdash;Zibo DaQing-soil blended with added quartz\u0026mdash;intended to raise the SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio and thereby lower the required firing temperature. The impurities present in the bodies reflect the characteristics of Zibo\u0026rsquo;s coal-associated kaolinitic clays and also indicate that processes of raw-material selection and elutriation were far from refined. Kiln furniture and vessel bodies display only minor elemental differences, derive from the same source, and show evidence of repeated reuse.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe high Fe\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e content in the glazes indicates that the glaze formulation technology at the Zhaili kiln possessed its own unique characteristics: substantial quantities of iron-rich raw materials were added to the glaze recipe in order to imitate the glaze color of southern celadon. This practice represents a significant feature of Zhaili's glaze preparation technology and also reflects the innovative outcomes of northern kiln technology. Meanwhile, the use of plant ash glaze formulas demonstrates the technological exchange between northern and southern ceramic industries. The relatively oxidizing kiln atmosphere typical of northern kilns prevented the Zhaili celadon glazes from achieving the green hue characteristic of southern celadon. The combined effect of the high CaO, Fe\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e, and TiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e content in the glazes, along with the kiln's firing atmosphere, resulted in thin glassy glazes that predominantly appear yellowish-brown or greenish-brown in tone.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003ch2\u003eAuthor Contribution\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAll authors listed on this submission have made substantial contributions to the work. The specific division of labor is as follows: Author Xuelin.Xu and Author Yu are mainly responsible for the core content of the paper, leading the conception of the research topic and overall framework design, deeply analyzing experimental data and interpreting the porcelain-making techniques of Zhaili Kiln celadon, drafting the initial manuscript and critically revising it for key intellectual content, and controlling the research viewpoints and logic of the full text. Author Yu and Author Li and Author Sihan.Xu are responsible for experimental-related work, including the collection and pretreatment of celadon and kiln furniture samples from Zhaili Kiln spanning the Northern Dynasties to the Tang Dynasty, performing various experimental operations such as chemical composition testing and firing temperature measurement of samples, and undertaking data collection, sorting and preliminary analysis. Author Cui coordinated the research progress, supervised the whole process of experimental implementation and paper writing, participated in manuscript revision and academic review, and controlled the rigor of the research. All listed authors have made substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work, or the analysis/interpretation of data, approved the version to be published, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCompilation Group of Zibo Ceramic History, Shandong Provincial Museum. Survey summary of the Northern Dynasties celadon kiln site at Zhaili, Zibo, Shandong. (Ed.), Collected Reports on Surveys and Excavations of Ancient Kiln Sites in China. Beijing: Cultural Relics; 1984. pp. 352\u0026ndash;8. Editorial Committee of Cultural Relics.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSince only trial excavations have been carried out at the Zhaili. Kiln, the stratigraphic relationships of the site remain unclear. Therefore, the summary of the porcelain characteristics of the Zhaili Kiln in different periods (as presented in the conclusion) can only be used as a reference, and cannot serve as a specific basis for dating.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Chinese Society of Silicate. History of Chinese Ceramics. Beijing: Cultural Relics; 1982. p. 163.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHuang S, Freestone IC, Zhu Y, Shen L. The introduction of celadon production in North China: Technical characteristic and diversity of the earliest wares. J Archaeol Sci. 2020;114:105057.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGuo MQ. Study on Porcelain from the Northern Dynasties to the Sui Dynasty in Shandong Region. Shandong: Shandong University; 2021. pp. 58\u0026ndash;82.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGeng C, Shen JY, Lang JF, Chen ZL, Lu C, Liu W. Multiple-analytical study on the technology of Zhaili celadon from the late sixth to the seventh centuries and its initiation. Archaeol Anthropol Sci. 2024;16:191.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLin SM. Summary of Ceramic Mineral Raw Materials in Shandong. Jinan: Shandong Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources; 1991. p. 91.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCompilation Committee of Shandong Provincial Geology and Mineral Resources Records. Records of Geology and Mineral Resources in Shandong Province. Jinan: Shandong Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources; 1992. p. 138.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLuo HJ, Li JZ, Gao LM. 1995. Classification standards for calcium-based glazes in ancient Chinese porcelain and their application in glaze research. Bull Chin Ceram Soc, (2): 51.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLi JZ. History of Science and Technology in China: Ceramic Volume. Beijing: Science; 1998. p. 123.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eZhang FK. The Science of Ancient Chinese Ceramics. Shanghai: Shanghai People's Fine Arts Publishing House; 1998. p. 90.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eZhao KQ, Ma X. General History of Shandong: Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties Volume. Jinan: Shandong People's Publishing House; 1994.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTang CR. Essays on the History of the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties. Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company; 1983. pp. 93\u0026ndash;123.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSu YQ, Jiang YK. 1984. The Cui Family Tomb of the Northern Dynasties at Linzi. Acta Archaeologica Sinica (2):221\u0026ndash;44.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eZhang GM, Li J. 1985. Second Excavation简报of the Cui Family Cemetery of the Northern Dynasties at Linzi. Archaeology (3):216\u0026ndash;221.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWei S. (Northern Qi Dynasty). 1974. Book of Wei, vol 160. Zhonghua Book Company, Beijing, p 2525.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLiu J, Liang HD. 2024. Natural Conditions for the Rise of Ancient Porcelain Kilns in North China During the Tang and Song Dynasties: The Outcropping of Coal-Bearing Strata. Coal Geol China (1):15.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIbid. [13].\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYang JY, Li P, Zhu SS. 2024. An Analysis of the Origins of Ceramic Production at the Zhaili Kiln in Zibo During the Northern Dynasties. China Ceram (8):105\u0026ndash;11.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eXiong HT. Studies on the History of Technological Development and Exchange in East Asian Kiln Industry. Nanjing: Nanjing University; 1995. p. 12.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMa Y, Ma QL, Ma HJ. 2018. A Study on the Raw Material Sources of Porcelain Unearthed from the Gongyi Kiln in Henan and the Xing Kiln in Hebei: Taking the Celadon and White Porcelain Produced During the Northern Dynasties and the Sui-Tang Period as Examples. Sci Conserv Archaeol (5):95.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Zhaili Kiln, the origin of celadon, porcelain-making techniqu","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9136334/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-9136334/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eZibo Zhaili Kiln is an important producing area of celadon in northern China. Through the analysis of chemical composition and firing temperature of 19 celadon and kiln furniture samples from the Northern Dynasties to the Tang Dynasty unearthed at Zhaili Kiln, explore the origin and porcelain-making technology. The results show that the porcelain body adopted a \"binary formula\" of local Zibo daqing-soil mixed with quartz, which increased the SiO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e/Al\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e ratio of the porcelain body and thereby reduced its firing temperature. The kiln furniture were made of the same raw materials as the porcelain body, probably existed a phenomenon of repeated use. The porcelain glaze used plant ash as a flux and added a large amount of iron-containing raw materials to imitate the glaze color of southern celadon, but the oxidizing atmosphere in the kiln made it difficult to achieve the glaze color of southern celadon. The firing temperature of Zhaili Kiln celadon was 1282\u0026deg;C, and the sintering degree of its body was generally low. The origin of Zhaili Kiln celadon was closely related to the demand of the noble in Shandong region. Its porcelain-making technology not only reflects the early exchange of kiln industry technology between the north and the south, but also embodies the indigenous innovation of northern kilns.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Scientific and Technological Analysis of Zhaili Kiln Celadon from Late Northern Dynasties to the Tang","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-03-25 08:06:45","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-9136334/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"42b35bc5-91fc-4304-b7ea-d6c9277952d3","owner":[],"postedDate":"March 25th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-04-24T13:56:25+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-03-25 08:06:45","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-9136334","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-9136334","identity":"rs-9136334","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}

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