在英文中，“中国”与“瓷器”（porcelain）是一个词，这说明，很早以前欧洲人认识中国是和瓷器联系在一起的。瓷器15世纪时就传入欧洲，在中外交流中占有重要的位置。历史上，中国和亚欧等国瓷器交易极为频繁，而且数量巨大。瓷器以其优雅精致的品质，为中国赢得了好名声。瓷器可以说是中国文化的名片，这个名片中凝聚着中国文化的信息，也体现了中国人的审美追求。
In English, the country and “porcelain” share the same name----“China”. This proves that Europeans have long known of China’s relationship to porcelain. Porcelain found its way to Europe in the 15th century, occupying an important position in the exchange between China and other countries. Throughout history, China maintained a busy and vast trade in porcelain with Europe and other Asian countries. Porcelain garnered a good reputation for China for its sophistication and elegance. It can be regarded as the Chine cultural card, which reprents the crystallization of Chine culture and the embodiment of the aesthetic pursuits of the Chine people.
