YUAN Feng, GUO Jiezhong, ZHANG Maolin
(Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute, Jingdezhen 333403, Jiangxi, China)

Abstract: Trademarks were derived from the inscriptions left on prehistoric pottery wares. With the progress of civilization and the development of handicraft industry and commerce, craftsmen began to inscribe their names on the objects they had made during the Spring and Autumn period to distinguish their products from others’ and to ensure their product quality. In Song dynasty, the rapid growth of economy and trade brought about a surge in ceramic demand, and large numbers of ceramic suppliers emerged, who impressed on their products their exclusive signs in Chinese characters, the origins of modern-day trademarks, which were enriched and perfected in Ming and Qing dynasties. Since then, those represented in Chinese characters have claimed a majority of trademarks on ceramics.

Key words: inscriptions on ceramics; marks on ceramics; trademark; Chinese language