Establishment of Boyiwu

After the naming of Jingdezhen by Emperor Zhenzong of Song (968–1022) and following over half a century of development and transformation, the noteworthy reformer Wang Anshi (1021–1086) was entrusted with implementing reforms, famously known as the “Xining Reforms” (1069–1076) during the Xining reign (1068–1077) of the Emperor Shenzong of Song (Zhao Xu, 1048–1085). During this time, marked by the flourishing kilns of Jingdezhen for porcelain production, Ciyao Boyiwu, the government department for ceramics affairs, was instituted in this region. Functioning as a national tax agency, Ciyao Boyiwu played a pivotal role in overseeing the trade and taxation of ceramics. While the Song dynasty boasted numerous esteemed kilns, the establishment of this institution was an exclusive occurrence in Jingdezhen. This significant event in the history of the imperial kiln is recorded in historical accounts: