Imperial Potters

摘要

At seventy I have become addicted to life (I am told the withdrawal symptoms are dire) so I try not to go to China too often. The pollution and the taxi drivers are lethal but I cannot stay away from Jingdezhen, China's Porcelain City for long. Spring and autumn find me at the Sculpture Factory complex, at the Pottery Workshop run by Takeshi Yasuda, in Room No. 9, a spartan little number. I did not attend public school but I fancy the facilities are much the same - simple and basic. Professor Yasuda allows no loud music in the studios, lavatory floors must be kept clean and rations are at noon and 6pm on the dot. Wednesday night is film night; Friday is lecture night and, in my case, hard work and the pollution ensures lights out by 9pm. In short an oasis of calm far from the more than maddening crowd.