In Japan, blue-and-white and overglaze enamel ceramics known as sometsuke and Gosu Akae have long been treasured by affluent merchants and tea connoisseurs, with many examples preserved as prized heirlooms. However, the precise origin of these ceramics remained an enigma for centuries. In 1992, an archaeologist from the Osaka Prefectural Cultural Property Center visited Xiamen University and discovered familiar ceramic shards in a local antique shop, leading to a breakthrough in resolving the longstanding mystery surrounding their provenance. It was ultimately confirmed through collaborative research between Japanese and Chinese scholars that Gosu Akae ware was produced at the Pinghe kilns in Zhangzhou, Fujian Province, and exported via Xiamen. Since these kilns primarily manufactured ceramics for overseas markets, intact examples are exceedingly rare within China. To date, the Zhangzhou Museum houses the only known complete specimen, underscoring the remarkable rarity and historical significance of Gosu Akae ceramics.
