Whiteware painted with red

green and yellow patterns play an important role in China’s development in glaze decoration. In this paper

cross-sections of the porcelain samples were scanned from glaze to body by synchrotron radiation and element contents of the samples were analyzed by SRXRF. The results revealed a transition between the glaze and engobe

and the engobe and body. In the transition area

elemental content changes were related to the raw material to form the glaze

engobe and body

and diffusing ability of the elements depended on thickness of the glaze and the elemental contents of each layer. The engobe had lower Fe and Ti concentrations than the body

hence improving the whiteness and quality of the porcelain. According to petrography

engobe was rich in mica minerals

leading to enhanced reflection effect of the white porcelain. This has not been reported before and further studies are underway.