Methodology

Three statuses#

draft

Research draft: evidence gaps or unresolved claims remain.

sources cited

Sources are cited. This label does not certify every claim or imply expert review.

reviewed

Reviewed by a named expert within the stated scope. Clay, maker and mark facts need an expert in the field. Automatic checks never set this status.

Sources#

The editorial review prioritizes museum collections, primary texts, archaeological reports, standards and research papers. References identify the evidence used; an inherited bibliography entry alone is not proof that every associated claim has been checked. Corrections distinguish documented findings, source-specific interpretations and unresolved traditions. Where available evidence is insufficient, the uncertainty remains visible.

Claims and attributions#

Origin stories and maker attributions are written as "attributed to" or "said to" unless a primary source says more. A clay name is described as trade usage, not as a grade or a guarantee. Firing figures come only from standards, laboratory papers or museum texts, with one row per source, because each measured different samples.

What is never on the site#

• Prices, price comparisons or rankings in this version.
• Any verdict on whether a pot is genuine, or any accusation against a named seller.
• Affiliate links or advertising.
• Personal data about makers beyond their documented professional work.

Languages#

The preview has seven editions: English, German, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese and Korean. Corrections are propagated across these editions and checked for consistency. This is an editorial and technical review, not independent native-reader approval of every page. Names retain their source-language forms; unresolved translation or evidence questions remain open for review.

Names and spellings#

Each entry is written under its own tradition. Chinese names use pinyin, Taiwanese names Traditional characters with pinyin, Japanese names modified Hepburn and Korean names Revised Romanization; other spellings are listed on the entry. Page addresses use the same romanization without diacritics.

Indexing#

While the site is in preview, every page is marked noindex. After launch, an English page can be indexed once its entry is sourced, and a page in another language once its translation is verified or reviewed. Drafts are never indexed.