Bantao Kiln Koji Ceramic Craft Culture Base — 1. The Origin of Koji Ceramic Art Koji ceramic art is the most distinctive traditional cultural art in the Chiayi region. During the Han Dynasty, the area south of Guangdong was called Jiaozhi. At that time, it was called Jiaozhi Ong-a, temple Ong-a. It was originally used to decorate traditional temple architecture and wealthy residences, and was known for its vivid and lifelike portrayal of characters from stories of loyalty, filial piety, righteousness, and integrity.

Bantao Kiln Koji Ceramic Craft Culture Base. 1. The Origin of Koji Ceramic Art Koji ceramic art is the most distinctive traditional cultural art in the Chiayi region. During the Han Dynasty, the area south of Guangdong was called Jiaozhi. At that time, it was called Jiaozhi Ong-a, temple Ong-a. It was originally used to decorate traditional temple architecture and wealthy residences, and was known for its vivid and lifelike portrayal of characters from stories of loyalty, filial piety, righteousness, and integrity. 1. The Origin of Koji Ceramic Art Koji ceramic art is the most distinctive traditional cultural art in the Chiayi region. During the Han Dynasty, the area south of Guangdong was called Jiaozhi. At that time, it was called Jiaozhi Ong-a, temple Ong-a. It was originally used to decorate traditional temple architecture and wealthy residences, and was known for its vivid and lifelike portrayal of characters from stories of loyalty, filial piety, righteousness, and integrity. There are mainly two major systems of Koji ceramic art in Taiwan, represented by Ye Wang with gemstone glazes and Ke Xun and Hong Kunfu with watercolor glazes. Ye Wang's works focus more on carving and lines, and the brightly colored gemstone glazes are a prominent feature of Koji ceramic art. Ke Xun from Tong'an County, Quanzhou Prefecture, came to Taiwan in the early Japanese colonial period. His brother Ke Renlai and apprentice Hong Kunfu also came to Taiwan to work on the Chaotian Temple in Beigang, Yunlin. They returned to the mainland after the work was completed. Due to the call of Lin Weichao, a Qing Dynasty scholar, to rebuild the Fengtian Temple in Xinkang, Chiayi, the contractor was asked to invite Hong Kunfu to undertake the temple's Koji ceramic art. Hong Kunfu's Koji ceramic art is characterized by "emphasis on form and light details." The characters and background are harmoniously matched. When sculpting Koji ceramic figures, the emphasis is on the character's shape, prioritizing the spirit, followed by the display of skill and the carving of details. Therefore, the proportions of the hands and feet of the Koji ceramic figures are slightly longer than their bodies, especially the thighs. During his work, he lived in the Yanshui Port area of Chiayi and began to teach his techniques and skills, often traveling between the mainland and Taiwan. Address: 嘉義縣新港鄉板頭村板頭厝45-1號 Hours: 00:00–23:59 Chiayi County