Cizhou ware or Tz´u-chou ware (Chinese: 磁州窯; pinyin: Cízhōu yáo; Wade–Giles: Tz´u-chou yao) is a wide range of Chinese ceramics from between the late Tang dynasty ...
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and the early Ming dynasty, but especially associated with the Northern Song to Yuan period in the 11–14th century. It has been increasingly realized that a very large number of sites in northern China produced these wares, and their decoration is very variable, but most characteristically uses black and white, in a variety of techniques. For this reason Cizhou-type is often preferred as a general term. All are stoneware in Western terms, and "high-fired" or porcelain in Chinese terms. They were less high-status than other types such as celadons and Jun ware, and are regarded as "popular", though many are finely and carefully decorated.