There is proof of the existence of ceramics in China back in 18000 BC. Ceramics are a very important part of Chinese art and are famous in the entire world. This was still true under the Ming dynasty, and ceramics were part of the goods sold to foreign merchants, such as Portuguese sailors.
It was also a time when China opened itself to other cultures and enriched its own art by doing so. As a result, the Ming ceramics show new forms inspired by Islamic metalwork for instance. New types of blue appeared thanks to discoveries in chemical mixtures used to decorate ceramics.