Short answers, pulled from the story.
The Shang dynasty began its rule in 1600 BCE, marking the start of centuries-long ceramic experimentation that would eventually yield true porcelain. Early glazed wares from this era evolved into what Chinese historians define as high-fired ware by the time of the Eastern Han dynasty between 25 and 220 CE.
Raw materials generally include kaolinite heated in a kiln to temperatures between 1200 and 1400 degrees Celsius. The greater strength and translucence arise mainly from vitrification and the formation of the mineral mullite within the body at these high temperatures.
Hard-paste porcelain was invented in China and later used in Japanese porcelain production. The Meissen factory was established in 1710 after developing a kiln suitable for use with Böttger's porcelain requiring firing at temperatures up to 1450 degrees Celsius.
Porcelain wares were exported to Asia Africa and Europe via the Silk Road during the Ming dynasty spanning 1368 to 1644 CE. In 1517 Portuguese merchants began direct trade by sea with the Ming dynasty while Dutch merchants followed in 1598.
Porcelain has been used for electrical insulators since at least 1878 according to records from the Institution of Electrical Engineers. In 2018 a porcelain bushing insulator manufactured by NGK in Handa Japan was certified as the world's largest ceramic structure by Guinness World Records standing 11.3 meters in height and 1.5 meters in diameter.