China is well-known for its pottery techniques and one of the four major styles of pottery making is now being revived and it is called the "nixing."
As part of the celebrations of the Cultural Heritage Day on Saturday, the 600-year-old kiln used by nixing pottery makers in Qinzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region int he past has been fired again to reintroduce the art back to the people. Nixing pottery's history dates back 1,300 years ago and uses a unique local clay only made in the region and each color that appears in these pottery pieces look very natural.
Nixing pottery pieces have long gained international prominence such as in 1915 where a nixing vase showing a pastoral mountain scene won the gold medal for an exhibit in Los Angeles.
Unfortunately, the pottery style lost followers and practitioners due to the lack of young potters that can support the practice. At first, several studios and workshops in the region were still offering Nixing pottery pieces and it was close to complete extinction when the national government assisted the efforts to protect the pottery tradition. The tradition has been included in the 2008 China's intangible cultural heritages and allowed schools to teach the lost craft; as well as conduct exhibits and seminars regarding the art.
In 2012, the government has also assisted in creating a nixing pottery garden in Qinzhou, which would boost the introduction of both the city's tourism and pottery industry to the public.
Last year, at least 24 million yuan was generated in Guangxi's traditional crafts industry. Today, 160 companies and workshops are now reintroducing local ceramics such as the nixing pottery to the world.
