Japanese Tea Ceramics History

Various kinds of pottery were produced ranging from products rolled in straw rope to produce patterns to figurines.

Japanese tea ceramics history.

The japanese have one of the longest continuous ceramic cultures in the world with the earliest ceramics dating to around 10 000 bc. Introduction takatori ware was the official ceramic of the kuroda rulers of chikuzen province now fukuoka prefecture for nearly three hundred years until the abolition of the domain system in 1871. Jomon ware the very first examples of earthenware in the world were produced 12 000 years ago in the form of jomon ware japan s very first ceramic products. There are six main schools of pottery recognized for their long history and popularity in japan.

During world war ii most ceramics factories for exports ceased except noritake see japanese ceramics of the last 100 years by irene stitt pg 167. The buddhist monks kūkai and saichō may have been the first to bring tea seeds to japan. From 1921 1941 wares from japan exported to the united states had to be marked japan or made in japan. The name jōmon itself meaning rope patterned refers to.

And yet at the beginning of the 20 th century it looked as if japan s traditional ceramic production was becoming obsolete. The history of tea in japan began as early as the 8th century when the first known references were made in japanese records tea became a drink of the religious classes in japan when japanese priests and envoys sent to china to learn about its culture brought tea to japan. Tea ceremony from the 15th century the popularity of the tea ceremony from the 15th century fostered an aesthetic appreciation of ceramics especially imported chinese wares which became valued as works of art. Japanese ceramics have a long history going back as far as 13 000 years ago to the earthenware of the prehistoric jōmon period.

Grandmasters of the japanese tea ceremony were always searching for the most suitable pottery and ceramics to use for serving tea. As was the case with other high fired ceramics. Japanese ceramics refer to pottery crafts made of clay as well as kaolinite made porcelain wares which appear whiter and finer with higher degrees of density and hardness. For japan the history of ceramics is the history of its belief systems its cultural values its wars and dynasties to a greater or lesser extent it is the history of its people.

The history of the tea ceremony and that of pottery are closely related. Every tea master had his own preference for a certail clay type or school of pottery which had distinct colors and shapes. Each of the 47 prefectures in japan produces ceramics using locally available materials.