Jingdezhen
/ˌdʒɪŋ dɪ ˈdʒɛn/noun
A city in Jiangxi Province, China, internationally famous for producing porcelain.
Did you know?Jingdezhen’s name comes from Jingde, the reign title of Emperor Zhenzong of Song, whose court-era name was adopted for the town around 1004–1007.
Etymological Timeline
Before 1004
Chinese
Xinping (新平)
“An earlier name associated with the settlement in present-day Jiangxi.”
Before 1004
Chinese
Changnan (昌南)
“A former name of the area; the name is traditionally associated with the later Western term “china” for porcelain.”
1004–1007
Chinese
Jingde (景德)
“The reign title of Emperor Zhenzong of the Song dynasty, conventionally interpreted as “illustrious virtue.””
11th Century
Chinese
Jingde zhen (景德镇)
““Jingde town,” the name adopted for the settlement under the Song dynasty.”
16th–18th Centuries
European languages
China / chine / porcelaine
“European trade languages used names associated with China and its exported porcelain; these terms are related to the product’s origin or trade, not direct translations of Jingdezhen.”
Modern English
English
Jingdezhen
“The standard English name for China’s historic porcelain-producing city.”