Japan’s Six Ancient Kilns
The pottery that comes from these is simply breathtaking,but you have to give the kilns a little bit of the credit. What happens inthere is simply magical. They produce a unique gem with each firing. Whether itbe a kiln derived from a hole in the side of a hill or one of the popular climbingkilns, the kiln takes the clay mold and creates the final masterpiece.
The variety and history behind Japanese kilns is nearlyindescribable There are most likelynearly a hundred villages still in existence even now. The kilns to take special note of, however,are the six ancient kilns. They would include Seto, Echizen, Tokoname, Shigaraki, Tamba (Or Tanba), andBizen.
These kilns date back far to the prehistoric Jomon periodand represent a huge contribution to the world that is pottery.
BIZENWARE
Bizenware is one of Japan’s oldest forms of pottery andcan also be recognized as Imbe or Inbe. It was introduced during the Heianperiod. It is characterized by its signature iron-tough hardness. It is rustic, reddish brown in color with noglaze. It’s markings come about through the wood burning at high, intense heat withthe firing process. There are also decorations created by wrapping the piece instraw before firing or splattering it with ash to resemble sesames. The peoplefound the uneven surfaces good for sakes, alcohol…made it taste better, andalso for food preservation. The uniqueness with Bizenware is that it improvesover time and the more that it is handled. It ages very well.
Echizenware
This pottery was produced around the same concept, withnatural ash. The kiln captured the dynamicof the fire and the air to create the beauty of the pieces. Echizenware wasknown for their jars both large and small. They were particularly known for thefact they did not leak. Folks used them in the beginning for water, grains,moving into agricultural purposes and then for ashes of loved ones as timemoved on. At the height of itspopularity there was a huge facility built in Echizen that was the largestpottery facility along the western coast of Japan. When Setoware came along, itdiminished the popularity of Echizenware.
Setoware
Setoware was strongly influenced by the Southern Sung Dynastyin China, specifically green celadon. Theglazes used were generally an ash brown or an iron black or feldspar white orcopper green It was first produced nearthe Kamakura period. It became so widely used that ‘seto mono' became a genericterm used for ceramics. It was seen inboth functional and decorative pieces with renderings on some of animals, e.g. badgerto cocks all the way to oxen to the stork and quail to the hare. It's expanded its uses further on the marketto being used for things including bricks and drain pipes.
Tokoname
Tokoname was produced later in the Heian period. It was made for function for pieces includingrice bowls, plates, larger pots, jars and sake bottles. It is not only famous forpottery but also building materials, e.g. roofing tiles, ceramic-made pipes.They’re especially famous for their little red iron teapot. It comes in othercolors but the red is most common. This is the most widespread of the sixancient kilns. The beautiful brownish-red shine gets deeper and more pronouncedas time goes on
Tambaor Tanba ware also Taichikui
This pottery in the very early stages was actually knownas Onohara. It came on the scene at the end of the Heian or the beginning ofthe Kamakura period. The piece would be covered in ash and fired in the kilnfor sixty hours at 1300°c giving it the unique color and pattern. Also uniquewith Tambaware, the potter would turn the lathe counterclockwise as opposed toclockwise. These were made for mortars used to grind grains, sake bottles andpails.
Shigarakiware
The Japanese raccoon dog (Tanuki) is a synonym ofShigarakiware Some of us need one ofthese. This started out being used forwater jugs but quickly graduated to tea utensils with the development of thetea ceremony popularity. They then went on to sake bottles, earthenware andhibachi pots. They were responsible for 80% of the country's hibachi sales. They’reused in interior designs today from everything from ornaments up to tiles. Thereally cool thing about this pottery is it uses a coarse soil which becomesfire resistant. During the actual firing process, it develops a pink or someother reddish color and becomes red with scarlet or brown overtones. So thewhite clay has what they call ‘kamaaji' which is a scarlet glow. That’s prettyawesome.
It’s amazing what talent these potters have incontrolling the heat and using the ash from the wood burning fire to createthese pieces. The imaginative thought process that you would have to have. Itblows my mind with each piece I study.