RESEARCH ON BOWL-TYPE PORCELAIN FROM THE “WANLI” SHIPWRECK BASED ON THE FRACTAL MAP(PING QUANTIFICATION METHOD (PENYELIDIKAN PORSELAIN JENIS MANGKUK DARIPADA KAPAL KARAM “WANLI” BERDASARKAN KAEDAH KUANTIFIKASI PEMETAAN FRAKTAL)

Huang Yue, Velat Bujeng, Cao Jianwen

Abstract


Abstract 

The Wanli shipwreck, as a representative Late Ming Dynasty shipwreck discovered in Malaysia, yielded tens of thousands of blue and white porcelain artifacts from the Late Ming period. Among these, bowls constitute the majority and can be categorized into large, medium, and small bowls based on their shapes. This study aims to apply the fractal mapping quantification method to filter and extract the sample contours of the bowls recovered from the Wanli shipwreck. It will encode and quantitatively analyze the morphological characteristics of different bowl types, exploring the relationship between local morphological evolution and functionality, as well as the proportional scale relationships between local and overall form. The goal is to determine the range of shape variations and key characteristics of these bowl types. Since the form and function of vessel shapes are closely linked, this study integrates data analysis with historical records and academic research to systematically classify the bowl types found in the shipwreck. It seeks to identify the characteristics of export-oriented blue and white porcelain bowls from the Late Ming Dynasty and examine how their forms were influenced by ceramic-making techniques, aesthetic trends, and daily habits. Additionally, the establishment of a typological mapping database for Ming Dynasty blue and white porcelain can serve as a valuable reference for future digital preservation and redesign efforts. 

Keywords: Wanli shipwreck, bowl, fractal mapping, quantitative analysis

 

Abstrak 

Kapal karam Wanli merupakan salah sebuah kapal karam daripada Dinasti Ming Akhir yang ditemui di Malaysia dengan muatan puluhan ribu artifak porselin biru dan putih dari zaman Ming Akhir. Majoriti artifak yang ditemui adalah jenis mangkuk dan boleh dikategorikan kepada mangkuk besar, sederhana dan kecil berdasarkan bentuknya. Kajian ini menggunakan kaedah kuantifikasi pemetaan fraktal bagi mengelaskan dan mengidentifikasi kontur sampel mangkuk yang ditemui dari kapal karam Wanli. Ia akan mengekod dan menganalisis secara kuantitatif ciri-ciri morfologi pelbagai jenis mangkuk dan melihat perkaitan antara evolusi morfologi setempat dengan fungsi dan skala hubungan antara bentuk setempat secara secara keseluruhannya. Objektifnya adalah untuk menentukan julat variasi bentuk dan ciri-ciri utama jenis mangkuk ini. Memandangkan bentuk dan fungsi bekas mangkuk adalah saling berkaitan, kajian ini menggabungkan analisis data dengan rekod sejarah dan penyelidikan akademik untuk mengklasifikasikan jenis mangkuk daripada kapal karam tersebut secara sistematik. Ia bertujuan mengenal pasti ciri-ciri mangkuk porselin biru dan putih yang berorientasikan eksport dari Dinasti Ming Akhir serta mengkaji bagaimana bentuknya dipengaruhi oleh teknik pembuatan seramik, aliran estetik dan amalan harian. Selain itu, pembinaan pangkalan data pemetaan tipologi bagi porselin biru dan putih Dinasti Ming boleh menjadi rujukan yang berharga untuk usaha pemeliharaan digital dan reka bentuk semula pada masa hadapan. 

Kata Kunci: Kapal karam Wanli, mangkuk, pemetaan fraktal, analisis kuantitatif


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