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Porcelain

Definition

A white vitrified translucent ceramic; china.

Analogy

Porcelain is like the valedictorian of a graduating class - refined, polished and highly valued. In history, porcelain was a major export product of China that was highly prized in Europe.

Related terms

Silk Road: This can be compared to the prestigious university that our valedictorian (porcelain) gets into. It's an ancient network of trade routes connecting East and West where goods like porcelain were traded.

Ming Dynasty: This is like the family or home environment that nurtures our valedictorian (porcelain). It's a Chinese dynasty during which porcelain production flourished.

Cultural Exchange: This is akin to the sharing of ideas at a school assembly. It refers to the exchange of cultural practices, products, and ideas between different cultures, often facilitated by trade networks such as those for porcelain.