Tongluo Kiln Introduction
Founded in 1967, the pottery has been passed down through three generations: Chang Hsin-Hsiang, Chang Shih-Hao, and Chang Wei-Han. With over 50 years of history, it is one of the last traditional pottery workshops in Taiwan producing large jars and vessels using hand-squeezed methods. Dongluo Pottery is located on the road from Zhusen Village in Dongluo Township to Tongxiao. The old roofing tiles bear witness to the rise and fall of Miaoli's pottery industry. The late founder Mr. Chang Hsin-Hsiang apprenticed under Fuzhou master Li Yi-Wu at the age of seventeen to learn hand-squeezed forming techniques, and in 1967 independently established "Dongluo Pottery Factory," producing flower pots, pickling jars, soy sauce barrels, and more. Currently, the second-generation potter Chang Shih-Hao and his wife Peng Hsiu-Mei operate the pottery, passing it down to the third generation, where Chang Wei-Han and his wife Lin Ying-Rui have recently begun to walk the path of inheritance. Dongluo Pottery specializes in traditional Fuzhou-style pottery techniques, excelling in the craft of hand-squeezed forming, particularly in the production of oversized jars. Its techniques and steps are quite meticulous, making Dongluo's large wine jars renowned far and wide. Moreover, the hand-squeezed skills have produced countless clay jars and pickling tanks for the Hakka community in Miaoli's Dongluo. The third-generation potter Chang Wei-Han is committed to preserving this traditional craft, aiming to inject new life into the traditional pottery industry and continue the heritage of Hakka pottery culture. The products of Dongluo Pottery are diverse, ranging from small 20-jin wine jars to large 800-jin storage jars, various sizes of jars for pickling sauerkraut and soy sauce, tea storage jars, wood-fired tea bowls, tea cups, tea sets, large landscape ceramics, and artistic ceramics. They also actively innovate, researching changes in glazes while ensuring practical utility, striving for a diverse business model. In the future, they plan to add exhibition and sales areas, as well as a story museum, to create added value for the old pottery factory.
