Introduction
The Ding wares are one of the most important white porcelains in Chinese ceramics history. They have earned the name because they had come from the Ding prefecture (present-day Quyang in the Hebei province). The Decorated Porcelains of Dingzhou: White Ding Wares from the Collection of the National Palace Museum Special Exhibition catalogue is divided into three sections based on the exhibition, which comprise "Early White Porcelains and Ding Ware," "The Decoration of Ding Ware," and the "Ding Porcelains and Their Influence." The "Early White Porcelains and Ding Ware" section introduces the origin and development of the Ding ware; "The Decoration of Ding Ware" section separates Ding wares into two major categories, which are "Ding ware with incised décor" and "White porcelains with moulded décor"; the "Ding Porcelains and Their Influence" section illustrates how the Ding wares were used as the model for making various items during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. By reading through this exhibition catalogue, readers will be able to examine the beauty of the decorated porcelains of Dingzhou.