This is a type/sample chart of the marks of the Ming dynasty plus some genuine / period mark samples.

Genuine marks might look slightly different from these but if the difference is too big, most probably the mark you got are not genuine or at least not of Imperial quality.

The number of artists entrusted to draw the Imperial mark on porcelain was limited and their individual handwriting are possibly to recognize.

By a careful study of all technical and artistically features including the mark - of any porcelain item, together with the documentation on what the court actually ordered - with measurements and descriptions, the authenticity of Imperial porcelain of the Ming dynasty could in most cases be established.

We should be aware of that the very best copies are those still not detected.

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)
	Hongwu 1368-1398
	Yongle 1403-1424
	Xuande 1426-1435 The Xuande mark is said to have been written by the famous calligrapher Shendu, since the official mark of Xuande is following his hand writing.
	Chenghua 1465-1487 It is thought that during the Chenghua period there were only one calligrapher writing all marks on all official porcelains. I am not sure we can assume that, regardless of what the mark looks like. In the early 1990's I discussed this with Liu Xinyuan head of the excavations in Jingdezhen at this time, while spending some time studying their finds. He told the reason why the Chenghua mark looks like it does - in his opinion - was because the original mark was written by the emperor while he was quite young, and his handwriting was not so good. Whatever the case is, the Chenghua mark is inelegant, thick, often imbalanced and immature. Some common characteristics of the Chenghua porcelain mark by whatever hand but true to the period: 1) First character "Great" - the beginning of the second stroke seldom extends much beyond the first stroke, looking stubby, but when it occasionally does the beginning is fat; third and final stroke ends thickly. 2) Third character "Cheng" - the third stroke descending is not curved but straight and vertical. 3) Fifth character "Nian" - the character is unusually squat and square. 4) Last (sixth) character "Zhi" - the ninth stroke does not extend beyond the standing knife (li-dao) radical. 5) The final "tails" on most characters (e.g. last stroke of "cheng", third stroke of "hua") are abrupt and sharp, like fish hooks. 6) The surrounds when square are thick with ink at each right angle. 7) The mark in general is faintly obscured, as if covered with a thin haze.
	Hongzhi 1488-1505
	Zhengde 1506-1521
	Jiajing 1522-1566
	736. Fu Gui Jia Qi - "Excellent Wares for the Wealthy Nobility". An auspicious inscription on folk wares, mostly seen on blue-and-white porcelain made in Jingdezhen in the Jiajing and Wanli reigns of the Ming dynasty and also seen on wares with gilt designs produced in the Jiajing reign. Chakra or, the flaming wheel-design on the inside. Estimated date C. 1600 according to some sources but probably Jiajing. Coll: Musée Antoine Lécuyer of Saint-Quentin (Aisne), France. Click here to see large picture
	Longqing 1567-1572
	Wanli 1573-1620
	Tianqi 1621-1627
	Chongzhen 1628-1644