The Porcelain Thief

The Porcelain Thief follows American journalist Huan Hsu as he moves to China to investigate his family's lost porcelain collection. His great-great-grandfather Liu Feng Shu had buried the collection to protect it from Japanese forces during World War II. Through his search for the porcelain, Hsu traces his family history across multiple generations and continents, from the ancient porcelain capital of Jingdezhen to modern-day Shanghai. He interviews relatives, visits archaeological sites, and navigates the complexities of contemporary Chinese society. The narrative combines historical research about China's porcelain industry with personal memoir and investigative reporting. Hsu documents both the technical aspects of porcelain production and the human stories of those who created, collected, and preserved these artifacts through centuries of upheaval. This book examines the intersection of family legacy, cultural identity, and historical preservation. Through the lens of porcelain, it explores how individuals maintain connections to their heritage across time and distance.

Readers describe this as part memoir, part history, and part investigation into Chinese porcelain and family heritage. Many reviewers note it reads more like a personal travelogue than a focused story about porcelain treasure. Readers appreciated: - Rich historical context about modern China - Cultural insights about family dynamics - Details about porcelain manufacturing and collecting - Writing style and humor in observing daily life Common criticisms: - Lack of focus on the porcelain hunt promised in the title - Too many tangential historical details - Slow pacing in middle sections - Unresolved storylines Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (500+ ratings) Amazon: 3.9/5 (100+ ratings) Sample review: "The title suggests a treasure hunt, but it's really about a Chinese-American exploring his roots. Adjust your expectations accordingly." - Goodreads reviewer "Fascinating history but meanders too much from the main story." - Amazon reviewer

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🏺 Author Huan Hsu quit his job as a staff writer at The Washington City Paper and moved to China, despite not speaking Mandarin, to search for his great-great-grandfather's buried porcelain collection. 🗺️ The book weaves together three narratives: China's porcelain history, the author's family saga during the Japanese invasion, and his personal journey of cultural rediscovery. 💎 The ancient porcelain-making city of Jingdezhen, central to the story, once produced imperial-quality ceramics so valuable they were called "white gold" in Europe. 👥 Hsu's great-great-grandfather Liu Feng Shu was a scholar-official who buried his prized porcelain collection to protect it from Japanese forces in 1938, and the location died with him. 🏺 During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), porcelain from China was so sought after that the Dutch East India Company transported over 3 million pieces to Europe.