Why is Blue and White porcelain so popular?

Do you have a ‘thing’ for Japanese blue and white ceramics? I do!

There are a few reasons why blue and white ceramics are popular in Japan and appreciated world wide – historical influence, aesthetic appeal, and cultural symbolism. 

Chinese influence and global trade

• The popularity of blue and white porcelain began in China during the Yuan and Ming dynasties, using cobalt blue pigment on white porcelain.
• Japan imported and admired Chinese ceramics, and when imports slowed due to political turmoil in China in the 17th century, Japanese potters—especially in Arita (Kyushu)—began developing their own versions.
• These became known as sometsuke (染付), a term for underglaze blue decoration.

Access to cobalt pigment

• Japan imported cobalt oxide, known as “gosu” (呉須), from Persia via trade routes. Its vivid blue pigment was stable during high-temperature firing and ideal for fine line work.
• Arita potters mastered this technique, helping launch Imari ware and Seto ware as international exports.

Japanese aesthetic of simplicity and elegance

• The restrained blue-on-white palette appeals to the wabi-sabi aesthetic—beauty in simplicity, imperfection, and natural forms.
• Designs often depict nature, folklore, and geometric patterns, aligning with Japanese cultural values of adhering to seasonality and respect for subtlety in aesthetics.

A part of the culture

• As production methods increased, such as using the copperplate transfer technique, these ceramics became associated with daily use as well as ceremonial occasions—used for tea ceremonies, food presentation, and religious offerings.

A popular export

• During the Edo period and into the Meiji era, Japanese blue and white ceramics were a major export to Europe and Southeast Asia, further cementing their importance in domestic production and pride.

The simplicity of the geometric designs or hand rendering of animals keep these blue and white surface patterns a timeless, enduring aesthetic - which is why they remain an iconic style in Japan today.  

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