Pottery is one of the oldest art forms in Asia. It has its roots in the Neolithic period. At this time, the soft earthenware was coil-made. The pottery was decorated by hand-impressed rope patterns and baked in the open air. Emigrants to Japan in the third century B.C. introduced the use of the wheel. Eventually, a tunnel kiln was produced, which enabled stoneware to be fired at very high temperatures and embellished with a natural ash glaze. Through the ages, the further development of the kiln allowed for a more sophisticated production of Japanese stoneware. The ancient formulas developed for the kiln continue to be used today for the creation of Asian pottery and porcelain. The pottery of Japan was influenced by Korean and Chinese pottery. In fact, most of the pottery that was exported from Korea was sent to Japan. A good deal of the pottery that was used for the Japanese Tea Ceremony was actually made by Korean potters. The Koreans, in turn, sent scholars and trade missions to China. When they returned home, they brought back many samples of Chinese pottery. The glazes and colors of Chinese pottery had a strong influence on Korean craftsmanship. Thus, you can see that Chinese pottery production greatly influenced both Korea and Japan. Chinese porcelain is one of the most noteworthy forms of Asian pottery. The distinct difference between porcelain and other types of pottery clay is that porcelain "wets" very quickly. As a result, working with porcelain requires a very skilled hand. The excellent craftsmanship used in all forms of Asian pottery has enabled it to stand the test of time. Today, the discerning collector of ancient pottery can find a variety of forms to choose from. | 
