### Step 1: English Answer

Hello, as a ceramics expert with a focus on the history and composition of various types of porcelain, I'm here to clarify a common misconception about bone china.
Bone china is indeed a special type of porcelain, renowned for its delicate translucency, fineness, and strength. However, the name "bone china" does not imply the use of human bones in its production.

Bone china is made from a mixture of bone ash, feldspathic material, and kaolin. The term "bone china" originates from the inclusion of bone ash, which is derived from animal bones, not human bones. The primary source of bone ash used in bone china production is typically cow bones. This bone ash is carefully processed and combined with other materials to create the unique properties of bone china.

The bone ash contributes to the porcelain's strength and translucency. It contains a significant amount of phosphates, which when combined with the other ingredients, results in a product that is both strong and visually appealing. The feldspathic material provides the necessary structure and body to the porcelain, while kaolin, a type of clay, gives it the fine, smooth texture that is characteristic of high-quality porcelain.

The production of bone china involves several steps, including the preparation of the raw materials, mixing, molding, firing, and glazing. The mixture is carefully crafted to ensure that it meets the minimum requirement of 30% phosphate derived from animal bone, as you mentioned. This percentage is crucial as it defines the quality and characteristics of the bone china.

It is important to note that the use of animal bone ash in bone china is not only traditional but also a result of scientific understanding of the material's properties. The phosphate content from the bone ash reacts with the silica and alumina in the feldspathic material and kaolin during the firing process, creating a glassy phase that enhances the porcelain's translucency and strength.

In conclusion, bone china is a sophisticated product of ceramic art that combines the strength and translucency provided by bone ash with the structural integrity and fine texture of feldspathic material and kaolin. The use of animal bone ash is a testament to the ingenuity of ceramicists and the rich history of porcelain making. It is a far cry from the macabre notion that human bones are used in its creation.

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Bone china is a type of soft-paste porcelain that is composed of bone ash, feldspathic material, and kaolin. It has been defined as ware with a translucent body containing a minimum of 30% of phosphate derived from animal bone and calculated calcium phosphate.read more >>