CHEN Lihe, ZHU Liepeng, HUANG Qianmei
(Department of Physical Education and Military Training, Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute, Jingdezhen 333403, Jiangxi, China)

Abstract: A case study has been carried out on the history, art features, social and psychological implications of Ming Dynasty children playing patterns on ceramics. Artistically, these patterns are mainly painted in underglaze blue or contrasting colors, with the compositions of the figures in different settings, depicted in styles varying from realistic to abstract. The late Ming patterns tend to gradually diminish the settings and focus more on human activities, their minimized compositions highlighting the beauty of sports, human health, and art construction, showing a greater value of appreciation, artistry and aesthetics. The children playing patterns on ceramics of Ming Dynasty represent a wide range of sport activities for children during this period. They also express people’s wishes for good fortune in officialdom, business, prosperity and fertility. The changes in the images of children reflect the social vicissitudes of Ming Dynasty. The study on the art features and social implications of the subject of sports on ceramics in Ming Dynasty is intended to give inspirations to the contemporaries, to encourage more interdisciplinary explorations and diversified development of ceramics, which will enrich the content and form of ceramic culture.

Key words: sport; children playing patterns; art features; representation of the society