The Celadon Exhibition at the Chinese Cultural Center in Rabat
The Chinese Cultural Center in Rabat is set to unveil an extraordinary exhibition titled "A Green Breath from the Sea: A Journey Through the Celadon of Zhejiang," starting September 10, 2026. This exhibition is dedicated to the millennia-long history of Chinese green ceramics and illustrates their significant role in the cultural exchanges between China and Africa. Evoking the essence of history, the vibrant hue of celadon has navigated through the ancient maritime Silk Roads, reaching the African coasts imbued with centuries of heritage. This event breathes life into the shared memory of ceramic traditions that have existed for thousands of years, highlighting the deep-rooted connections between Chinese and African civilizations.
A Celebration of Cultural Exchange
Organized as part of the "Year of Human and Cultural Exchanges between China and Morocco 2026," the exhibition will be inaugurated on September 10 at the Chinese Cultural Center in the Moroccan capital. The event is a collaborative effort led by the Department of Culture, Radio, Television, and Tourism of Zhejiang Province, in partnership with the Chinese Cultural Center of Rabat and the Zhejiang Institute of Archaeology and Cultural Heritage. Through this initiative, the organizers aim to foster mutual understanding and deepen the historical bonds of friendship between the Chinese and Moroccan peoples. The Zhejiang region, often referred to as the cradle of green ceramics, is renowned worldwide for its celadon. The area's rugged terrain, characterized by "seven parts mountains, one part water, and two parts arable land," may not seem ideal for agriculture, yet it boasts a wealth of natural resources essential for pottery production.
The archaeological evidence indicates that kilns in Zhejiang were operational as early as the Xia and Shang dynasties. Since that time, the flames of these kilns have continuously burned, illuminating the path of celadon into the modern day. Starting from the late Tang dynasty, Zhejiang's celadon began its journey along the maritime Silk Roads, finding its way to far-off shores, including those of Africa, where fragments have been discovered at several archaeological sites across North, East, and Southern Africa. Thus, the ceramics from Zhejiang transcended their status as mere artifacts; they became messengers of civilization, accompanying trade, cultural exchanges, and human interactions between China and the African continent.
The exhibition's official opening on September 10 at 6:30 PM will feature a promotional video and the launch of a virtual exhibition sharing the same title. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the world of celadon through a curated journey that narrates its historical significance. Interactive activities will celebrate Chinese intangible cultural heritage, including practical workshops that introduce participants to the art of green ceramic production and demonstrations centered around the traditional Chinese tea ceremony, offering a glimpse into another aspect of this cultural legacy. However, the exhibition goes beyond aesthetic appreciation; it aims to create a scientific dialogue space for researchers and specialists from China and Morocco.
An academic meeting is scheduled for September 11 at 9:30 AM at the Chinese Cultural Center in Rabat. Experts from the Zhejiang Institute of Archaeology and Cultural Heritage will present several talks focused on the history, heritage, and dissemination of Chinese ceramics. The goal is to allow the artifacts to tell their stories—revealing the routes they have traveled, the societies that produced them, and those that received them. Because celadon, once journeying from the kilns of Zhejiang and carried by the sea winds, narrates a tale that extends far beyond porcelain; it is the story of a dialogue between peoples that centuries and oceans have never fully severed.
As reported by article19.ma.
