DAWN OF THE PORCELAIN ROAD
In 1498, Vasco da Gama led a Portuguese fleet that sailed around the Cape of Good Hope to Calicut (now Kozhikode), India, marking the official opening of new trade routes to the East. In 1510, the Portuguese occupied Goa in India, and the following year they seized Malacca, embarking on their first voyage to the coast of Guangdong, China, in 1513, beginning to establish trade relations between China and Southeast Asia. Since the Ming and Portuguese courts did not establish official relations, the Portuguese subsequently left the waters off Guangdong and sought opportunities for development along the coastal areas of Fujian and Zhejiang. During this period, Chinese porcelain– particularly the blue-and-white porcelain from Jingdezhen in Jiangxi – became highly prized among European royals and nobles. The establishment of SinoPortuguese porcelain trade provided an important opportunity for Chinese pieces to enter the European market, further encouraging the production of custommade porcelain in Europe.
By the mid-16th century, the Portuguese had established a stable presence in Macao, marking a new milestone in Sino-Portuguese porcelain trade. Macao became a global trading hub, with the types and quantities of ceramics exported from China to Europe, as well as the scale of operation, rapidly increasing. The kilns in Jingdezhen and the Zhangzhou area of Fujian were the main production bases for Chinese export porcelain, and later a processing industry based on supplied samples was formed. At that time, porcelain featuring unique decorative styles, such as ‘kraak ’ porcelain, became highly fashionable in Europe.
During the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, ongoing conflicts disrupted trade in Macao. Trade activities did not resume until the Kangxi era, with the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Chinese and Portuguese courts. Macao continued to play a pivotal role in the global trade network, with the exported Chinese porcelain industry expanding across markets worldwide. By the end of the 19th century, the Portuguese occupied Macao and instituted colonial rule, while Hong Kong emerged as a vital port for transshipment and coastal trade in China, replacing Macao’s position as an important trade hub.