PIXE analysis of Chinese Ru celadon made in the 11–12th centuries

The Ru kiln is one of the five most famous kilns (Ru, Guan, Ge, Ding and Jun kilns) in the Chinese Song Dynasty (AD 960–1279). The Ru Kuan kiln at Qingliang Temple, Henan Province, originated from the Ru folk kiln. PIXE and factor analysis were employed to study the difference between the folk celadon and the Kuan celadon. The relationship between the Ru Kuan and Ru folk celadons from the Qingliang Temple kiln site and the Ru celadon from the Zhanggongxiang kiln site, found in the last few years, was also studied. The experimental results showed that the same body raw material was used for the production of the Ru Kuan and Ru folk celadons whereas the Ru celadon from Zhanggongxiang was produced from a different body raw material. Factor analysis based on chemical components of the glaze is able to differentiate between the celadons, i.e. Ru Kuan celadon, Ru folk celadon and the Ru celadon from Zhanggongxiang. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.