Final answer:
Pottery was distinguished by its function and decoration, with utilitarian pottery being simpler and elite pottery more elaborate. The Longshan culture's exceptional quality pottery used advanced techniques, and decoration styles evolved from geometric to naturalistic over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
How Was Pottery Distinguished in Terms of Design?
According to the video, pottery was distinguished in terms of design based on its usage and the sophistication of its decoration. Utilitarian pottery, made for functional domestic use, might have been decorated but retained a focus on practicality. In contrast, elite pottery was finely made and often elaborately decorated with high detail, indicating its use for holding precious liquids or decoration. The black-on-orange pottery was typically hand-formed or mold-shaped, with black painted designs on white or gray backgrounds. This signified the pot's purpose for more formal or ceremonial uses, where each village had its own distinct style. Additionally, blue and white pottery was locally made and sometimes featured Moorish designs, emulating Asian porcelain.
Furthermore, the Longshan culture was known for its exceptional quality pottery, often created in various sizes and shapes using a high-speed potter's wheel, with updraft kilns aiding in mass production. Examples of such sophisticated work include the unique Longshan black pottery, characterized by its polished finish and thin structures, known as eggshell pottery.
Different cultures utilized the abundant resource of clay differently, leading to a diversity of pottery styles, which ranged from coil pots fired in open pits like those seen in the Early Jomon period, to more advanced techniques involving potter's wheels and kilns. The decoration on pottery also evolved over time from simple geometric patterns to more naturalistic and dynamic figures, as seen during the progression from the Geometric to the Archaic period.