ChaoChao
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According to legend in Jingdezhen, the kiln god Tong Bin walked into the kiln and sacrificed his flesh in flame to save the entire village from a massacre. In this legend, the kiln god is brave and staunch like fire. The flame destroyed his body but left behind his will and soul. In the kiln full of unknown danger and bursting flames, it seems that only the spirit of the kiln god can survive. The kiln god has naturally become the spiritual harbor of ceramists and the god who protects the kiln. When every kiln fire rises, clay is fired along with the simplest expectations of the potters. We hope that this kiln will be safe and sound and that our future life will be safe and sound.
I entered the Ceramics Department of RISD as my secondary major in my Sophomore year. When facing the change of environment and the fear of the unknown in the kiln, I thought of the kiln god. I need a grand ritual to bring his soul to the world, and I need the protection of his strong spirit and power. I chose terracotta to construct the body of the kiln god because the clay is rich in red iron oxide, which reminds me of human flesh and blood. I used hard texture and lines to depict the folds and the face of the kiln god because he has a powerful and honorable character. He stood in the flames, and the flames danced in his palms. Finally, the sculpture was put into iron barrels for pit firing. This primitive and wild firing process is very similar to a sacrificial ritual. The smell of burning wood and smoke billowed into the night sky. When the flame went out and the glowing clay slowly dimmed due to the high temperature, I found that the small flame that should have been in the hands of the kiln god disappeared. Is it God's will? Perhaps that flame should quietly disappear into the firelight that night and dissipate like smoke.
The kiln god who has experienced the flames is washed away from the ashes. Traces of the reduction reaction violently permeated his body. I am very satisfied with the product of this ceremony. I believe from the bottom of my heart that there is a part of the soul of the kiln god living in this clay. He will respond to my expectations, protect every kiln firing, and protect every ceramists.