Study of the Trade Ceramics in South East Asia

1989 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 63041124
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Overseas Scientific Survey.
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: Field Research
• Research Institution: National Museum of Japanese History
• Principal Investigator: OKADA Shigehiro Professor, Director of the Archaeology Department, National Museum of Japanese History., 考古研究部, 部長・教授 (50150016)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): MORITA Tsutomu Curator, Kyusyu Historical Museum. The Educational Committee of Fukuoka Prf., 指導2部九州歴史資料館, 主査 ; MURAKAMI Isamu Curator, Hiroshima Prefectulal Gallary., 学芸員 ; AOYAGI Yoji Professor, Institute of Asisn Cultures, Sophia University., アジア文化研究所, 教授 (60146800) ; UDAGAWA Takehisa Assosiate Professor, The Archaeology Department, National Museum of Japanese His, 情報資料研究部, 助教授 (70104750) ; ONO Masatosi Assosiate Professor, The Archaeology Department, National Museum of Japanese His, 考古研究部, 助教授 (00185646)
• Project Period (FY): 1988 – 1989
• Keywords: Archaeology / South East Asia / Trade / Ceramic / Porcelain / Blue & White / Celadon / Distribution

Research Abstract

Classification and collecting pictures of the trade ceramics are mainly object of our project. Our objectives were achived in Peninsular Malaysia,Jawa,Eastern Malaysia and Brunei in Kalimantan, not yet Sumatera and Sulawesi.
Main findings of the research are as follows; 1 In Penisular Malaysia, 1) We can see several sites dated from the 9th to 10th centuries, at the middle and nothern area, but few at southern area. Assemblage of trade ceramics are consisted of Chinese ceramics--from Chagsha, Yue, Xing kilns and from Guangdong, Fujian, Roman glass and Persin Brue. In Japan,we can find very few latter four. 2) In the 13th century, it is the defference between South East Asia and Japan that Celadon bowls with caved petal design in relief are rare in the former. So these ware might have been produced for the purpose of export to Japan and West Asia. 3)But in the 14th century, both have same assemblage of Chinese ceramics. 4) Thai and Vietnamese ceramics in this area has increased from the 14th to 15th centuries but in Japan. 5) We can see many Yuan blue & white and iron-spotted Yingqing in Philippin and eathtern Jawa but rare in Penisular Malaysia. It makes a great difference each other in South East Asia. It is interesting to compare the ceramics found in Tuban, one of the main harbor of Majapahit kingdom east Jawa, with ceramics found in Sinan wreck Korea, for Japanese market.
2 In West Jawa, mainly we researched Banten and Pasar Ikan etc., the sites from the 17th century onward, and both are connected with the East India Company. 1) The trade ceramics includes the products of China, Thailand, Japan and Europe. 2)The Chinese ceramics include not only blue & white but Batavian ware and over-glage enamels. 3) The Japanese products consists of blue & white, overgraze enameled ware from Arita and Hakeme-Karatu---a kind of slip pottery ware from Takeo, Celadons from Hasami. These ceramics were found a little in Japan, so these ware might have been produced for the purpose of export.