Essence of tradition

"It's impossible for us to learn the essence of traditional porcelain-making from those masters. We can only start from the very beginning, which may take 10 years or even longer," said Lei Jie, who graduated from Jiangxi Ceramic and Art Institute in 2007.

Gao Ling (left) discusses his new work with classmate Chen Wei. Gao, who has a small workshop in the city, is confident about his creativity. [Yang Wanli / China Daily]

Lei loves making porcelain and is among the few students in his class still employing the skills they learned in college. He has a workshop in Jingdezhen, where he produces his wares, mostly teapots and cups. However, it's not a profitable way of life and his income barely manages to support his family of three.

Students also bring vitality to the old city. Every Saturday morning, a market for original wares attracts hundred of young artisans. Mostly students from Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute, they bring porcelain and ceramic works which they hope to sell.

Gao Ling, a 23-year-old senior student at the institute, has a workshop near the school. In February, he received an order to make 800 bottles for a perfume company. He said most of his classmates rent apartments nearby the school to use as workshops and almost all have their own business.

Some companies will seek out works that attract them and later place orders. "We can not compete with those old experienced artisans. Our products are not high quality, but we have new ideas," said Gao, with a confident look.

Last year, he brought a motorbike to ease travel between the school and his workshop. He also cooperated with other students who made necklaces and bracelets out of porcelain. "I knew a schoolmate who earned tens of thousands of yuan a year through his workshop business. It's a good start for young people. We can't compete with the older artisans in terms of experience, only in terms of creativity," he said.

"Modern Chinese porcelain simply doesn't enjoy the same reputation it had in ancient times. The competition among workshops now isn't about quality, it's just about lowering costs," Lei said. "It is hard to find excellent wares, let alone masterpieces, in the market."

"To make porcelain by hand allows you to feel the spiritual power inside. People now care more about how something looks than the culture behind it," said Wang Hao, a graduate of the China Academy of Art, who often shares his ideas on shapes and colors with Lei.

"Students can hardly feel the miracles hidden within the process, such as the colors, which really add an element of creativity to the products," he said.

His girlfriend has been working with him for about five years, but they are unable to buy an apartment in the downtown area, which are priced at about 2,000 yuan per square meter.

"I don't know how long I will persist, but hopefully it won't be a short period. I love it and I believe that the industry will improve in future and the city will become a really great place that will give birth to beautiful porcelain, just as it did in ancient times," he said.