How Jingdezhen’s Linglong Porcelain Can Have Holes and Still Hold Water

Why does this porcelain look full of holes but still hold water? A recent short video of Jingdezhen’s Linglong porcelain made that visual puzzle the hook. The broader ceramic topic “This Intangible-Heritage Pottery Has Something to It” appeared among the leading items on a Chinese internet hot list on October 20.

The craft’s key detail is the glaze. According to a Jingdezhen municipal heritage record, artisans carve small openings into the clay body, fill them with a special transparent glaze, and then glaze and fire the whole piece. After firing, the openings become translucent spots in the porcelain.

So the vessel does not have open holes through its wall. The glaze seals the openings while letting light through, creating the delicate, pierced appearance without making the object leak. Jingdezhen’s records identify Linglong porcelain as a traditional ceramic-decorating craft.

That contrast makes the technique easy to appreciate in a short video: the viewer sees what looks like a gap, then realizes it is part of a sealed, functional surface. One widely shared clip cannot prove a sudden revival of every traditional craft, but it can make a particular skill legible in a few seconds.