Development History of Ancient Chinese Glass Technology

Worldwide research on ancient glass began in the early 20th century. A consensus has been reached in the community of Archaeology that the first manmade or synthetic glasses, based on archaeological findings, originated in the Middle East during the 5000 3000's BC. By contrast, the manufacturing technology of pottery and ceramics were well developed in ancient China. The earliest pottery and ceramics dates back to the Shang Dynasty the Zhou Dynasty (1700 BC 770 BC), while the earliest ancient glass artifacts unearthed in China dates back to the Western Han Dynasty. Utilizing the state-of-the art analytical and spectroscopic methods, the recent findings demonstrate that China had already developed its own glassmaking technology at latest since 200 BC. There are two schools of viewpoint on the origin of ancient Chinese glass. The more common one believes that ancient Chinese glass originated from the import of glassmaking technology from the West as a result of Sino-West trade exchanges in the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC 25 AD). The other scientifically demonstrates that homemade ancient Chinese glass with unique domestic formula containing both PbO and BaO were made as early as in the Pre-Qin Period or even the Warring State Period (770 BC 221 BC), known as Youhsa or Faience. This English version of the previously published Chinese book entitled History of Ancient Chinese Glass Technology Development is for universities and research institutes where various research and educational activities of ancient glass and history are conducted. With 18 chapters, the scope of this book covers very detailed information on scientifically based findings of ancient Chinese glass development and imports and influence of foreign glass products as well as influence of the foreign glass manufacturing processes through the trade exchanges along the Silk Road(s).

Gan Fuxi, born in Hangzhou (Zhejiang), China, January 1933, a professor at Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics and Fudan University. He received his PhD from the Academy of Science USSR. His research interests cover the fields of optical and laser materials, optoelectronics, and optical data storage technology as well as archaeology of ancient silicate based artifacts. He was elected the Member of Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1980 and Fellow of Third World Academy of Sciences in 1993. An honorable council member of China Association for Science and Technology, and honorable president of Chinese Ceramic Society. He received the Life Time Award of the International Commission on Glass. Hong Li, PhD is currently a senior scientist with a combined experience of more than 25 years in applied glass and glass fiber research and commercial technology development. Dr Li is currently with Nippon Electric Glass (North Carolina, USA) and previously held various R&D positions at PPG Industries (Pennsylvania, USA), SCHOTT North America, Inc. (Pennsylvania, USA), and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (Washington, USA). Dr Li's major R&D projects cover new fiber glass technologies for commercial composite applications in printed circuit boards, wind turbine blades, high pressure vessel, chemical corrosion protection and automobile, optical glass for laser application, and vitrification of high-level radioactive waste materials. Dr Hong Li is a recipient of PPG Industries INNOVA AWARD for low dielectric constant glass fiber development and a PPG COLLEGIUM MEMBER for his lifetime sustainable achievements, including the recent development of INNOFIBER® Fiber Glass Technology Platform. Dr Li has also been elected for recognitions by Marquis Who'sWho® in Science and Engineering (2015) and Marquis Who'sWho® in America (2012) for his distinguished professional contributions to the society. Dr Li is a Fellow of the American Ceramic Society (ACerS) and the former chair of the Glass and Optical Materials Division, ACerS. Since 2010, Dr Li has been representing ACerS as a Council Member of International Commission on Glass. He has co-organized and co-chaired numerous well recognized international symposia and conferences on basic glass science and commercial fiber glass technology. He also serves as a technical referee for several journals covering topics of glass and materials science. Dr Li has co-edited two topical proceeding volumes on glass chemistry and glass fibers and co-authored more than 100 technical publications in peer reviewed journals. Dr Li is a co-inventor of more than 100 patents/patent applications worldwide.