Crackle glazing is a distinctive feature of Ru ware celadon. In ancient times, cracks often appeared on the surface of Ru ware during firing and were regarded as defects. However, the ancients transformed these “flaws” into a mysterious aesthetic, and Ru ware gradually came to embrace this beauty of imperfection. After long periods of exploration and experimentation, crackle patterns ultimately became the pinnacle of Ru ware celadon’s aesthetic expression.

Crackle patterns on Ru ware celadon can be divided into four main types: straight, diagonal, large, and small. Crab-claw, ox-hair, net-like, and fish-egg patterns are all types of straight cracks, while ice-crackle and scale patterns are diagonal cracks. Although cracks form fine fissures in the glaze, its surface remains smooth. Common crackle patterns also include ice-crackle, scale, and cicada-wing patterns.