about Shigaraki ware
“Shigarakinomiya” was built by the Emperor Shomu in the Tenpyo year.
It’s said to be “capital of illusion” because you transferred in only several years.
Palace remains and the hearth remains to make Rushana Buddha (the Great Buddha) are found in recent years.
Middle term in Kamakura era,technology of a hole kiln is introduced to Shigaraki.
A jar, a pot and an earthenware mortar begin to be baked using earth excellent in quality.
These were made by farmers as the container which a harvested seed is put.
Those are chosen by Murata Juko and Takeno Joo and others as tea ceremony wares.
Later, shigaraki ware was made for tea masters.
These are called as “Jouou Shigaraki”,”Rikyu Shigaraki”,”Soutan Shigaraki”,”Ensyu Shigaraki”.
A climbing kiln will be the mainstream after the seventeenth century, and a tea urn and a vase are made.
After Meiji, a brazier and a silk spinner pot are made. Shigaraki ware was changing with the time and industry.
It’s also inherited now as one of Japanese six old kilns as well as Tokoname, a Seto, Echizen, Bizen and Tanba.
The jar made with a hole kiln for (in particular, Muromachi era) in the Middle Ages from Kamakura era to Azuchi-Momoyama Period is said to be a valuable one worldwide as “old Shigaraki”.
It’s also called the root of a Japanese sense of beauty.
Shigaraki charmed Kawabata Yasunari, Hakushu Seiko and Ken Domon and Many culturati.
The hole kiln which stopped in an early stage in the Edo Period is revived from time at the beginning of Showa. But much of method of “old Shigaraki” isn’t elucidated yet.
