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Delighting in Diversity
Following a period when Chinese and Korean tea bowls (Karamono chawan and Korai chawan, respectively) were highly valued, Japan began to produce its own tea bowls for the tea ceremony. This marked the birth of Japanese tea bowls (Wamono chawan). From their origins in Seto (Aichi Prefecture) and Mino (Gifu Prefecture), these tea bowls spread to various regions, each influencing one another in terms of trends and techniques, leading to the creation of tea bowls with diverse and unique characteristics. In this chapter, we will explore the various tea bowl production areas in Japan and their distinctive features.
Title: Tea Bowl, Named “Iwao (Boulder)”
Country/Origin: Japan, Carved Karatsu ware
Period/Century: Azuchi-Momoyama-Edo period, 16th-17th century
Holder: Tokyo National Museum
Ichi-Raku, Ni-Hagi, San-Karatsu
In the 16th century, tea bowls began to be fired in Mino in styles that would come to represent the region, such as Seto-guro, Shino, and Oribe. Seto-guro features a low waist and is covered with black glaze except for the kodai base, while Shino has a white surface with clearly visible tetsu-e (Iron underglaze).
Subsequently, tea bowls began to be actively produced in western Japan as well. In Karatsu (Saga Prefecture), kilns were established by potters who had come from Korea. These kilns employed the latest technology of the time, the “renbo-shiki nobori-gama,” or multi-chambered climbing kiln, and went into full swing production using techniques from Korea and China. The tea bowls were influenced by the highly regarded Korean tea bowls and Mino ware of the period, which were characterized by their rustic charm that retained the natural texture of the clay.
Alongside Karatsu, another well-known production area is Hagi (Yamaguchi Prefecture). Like Karatsu, the kilns in Hagi are said to have been established with the involvement of potters who came from Korea. This region has a long history of producing tea bowls with a strong influence from Korean tea bowls. The unique beauty of Hagi ware can be seen in its characteristic “Hagi no nana-bake” (“The seven changes of Hagi ware”), where the color and texture of the tea bowl change over time as tea or water seeps into the kan-nyu crackles on the surface. The soft, earthy tones of Hagi ware also contribute to its distinctive aesthetic.
Title: Hagi Tea Bowl
Holder: Kyoto National Museum
Created based on the information available on ColBase (https://colbase.nich.go.jp/collection_items/kyohaku/G%E7%94%B2655?locale=ja)
Title: Black Raku Tea Bowl, Named “Mukashi Banashi”
Artist: Chojiro
Period/Century: Azuchi-Momoyama period, 16th century
Holder: Tokyo National Museum
Hagi and Karatsu flourished as production areas for tea bowls, but Raku tea bowls emerged in a different manner. A potter named Raku Chojiro created Raku tea bowls to reflect the philosophy of Sen no Rikyu, who perfected the tea ceremony. Unlike Karatsu and Hagi styles, which were produced on potter’s wheels, Raku tea bowls were hand-formed (tezukune or tebineri), and some pieces still bear the marks of the potter’s fingers. The representative colors of Raku tea bowls are black and red, but they are never too vivid. The plain texture, with little hardening during firing, gives Raku tea bowls their unique mellow impression. These tea bowls were made for Sen no Rikyu, embodying the spirit of wabi-cha.
Though differing in their production areas, histories, and characteristics, these tea bowls, Hagi, Karatsu, and Raku, have captivated the hearts of tea practitioners for many years and were recognized during the Taisho era (1912-1926) as “Ichi-Raku, Ni-Hagi, San-Karatsu” (“First Raku, second Hagi, third Karatsu”).
Expanding across regions and eras
The Nobori-gama climbing kilns of Karatsu spread to areas like Imari, Arita, Ureshino, and even to Mino, which had initially influenced Karatsu. Shigaraki and Bizen, known for their unglazed yakishime style, began producing tea bowls around the 17th century. However, these bowls were not made in the yakishime style; instead, they incorporated the trends of Mino ware, resembling Shino and Oribe styles. The techniques of kiln construction, primarily starting from the west with Karatsu, interacted with the trends in form coming from the east, fostering the diversity of tea bowls.
During the Edo period (1603-1868), the number of kilns increased significantly, and Kyo ware, produced in Kyoto, gained prominence. This era saw the emergence of tea bowls decorated with colorful motifs, creating a vibrant and distinct presence in the market.
Beauty lies in use
So far, we have explored the history of tea bowls, their various parts, their regions of production, and their characteristics. However, the most important aspect of appreciating tea bowls is indeed using them.
Soetsu Yanagi, in his book Tea and Beauty, states: “Viewing brings joy. But the joy of using is even deeper. There is no time when an object shows its most beautiful appearance more than when it is in use.”
Even though tea bowls have a singular purpose, to drink tea, their individual characteristics are diverse. You may choose one based on how well it fits your hand in terms of texture and size. Even if it is not a new tea bowl, making tea in a bowl you already have can sometimes surprise you with its fresh expression, as the vibrant green of the tea adds a new dimension to its beauty. This is a unique charm of bowls used in the practice of tea.
A tea bowl is the vessel in which a cup of tea is served and consumed. Through handling and using it time after time, the tea bowl accumulates stories and grows richer in character.
Written by Fumiko Tokimori
References
– Tea Bowls of the Tea Ceremony, Volume 3: Japanese Tea Bowls I. (Tankosha)
– Tea Bowls of the Tea Ceremony, Volume 4: Japanese Tea Bowls II. (Tankosha)
– Tea Bowls of the Tea Ceremony, Volume 5: Raku Tea Bowls. (Tankosha)
– Yanagi, Soetsu. Tea and Beauty. (Kodansha)
Sources
ColBase: Integrated Collections Database of the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan
https://colbase.nich.go.jp/collection_items/tnm/G-5327?locale=ja
https://colbase.nich.go.jp/collection_items/kyohaku/G%E7%94%B2655?locale=ja
https://colbase.nich.go.jp/collection_items/tnm/G-74?locale=ja
