A new kind of polyorganozircosilazane as a Si/Zr/C/N-based ceramic precursor was synthesized from the condensation reaction of hexamethylcyclotrisilazane lithium salts and zirconium tetrachloride. The pyrolysis of the precursor was carried out at 800degreesC under nitrogen. The results indicated that the precursor preparation temperature could affect the pyrolytic yields. The precursor, which was synthesized at 80degreesC, gave the highest pyrolytic yield. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.