Tanaka Chōjirō
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Tanaka Chōjirō was a Japanese potter credited with inventing raku ware in 16th-century Kyoto. Commissioned by Zen tea master Sen Rikyū, Chōjirō designed wares specifically for the tea ceremony. Raku ware is characterized by its simple, hand-molded shapes, making each piece unique and expressive of the maker's hand.12
The distinctive technique involves rapid cooling of glazed pottery, which creates unique glaze effects. Common glaze colors include dark brown, orange-red, straw, green, and cream. These wares were highly valued for their aesthetic qualities and suitability for the tea ceremony, a practice that profoundly influenced Japanese pottery.12
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potteryAzuchi-Momoyama period (1573–1600)His son Tanaka Chōjirō and his family extended this technique to the teabowl, and in about 1588 their wares were brought to the notice of Hideyoshi, who awarded them a gold seal engraved with the word raku (“felicity”). The raku made in Kyōto are among the most…
Read MoreHis son Tanaka Chōjirō and his family extended this technique to the teabowl, and in about 1588 their wares were brought to the notice of Hideyoshi, who awarded them a gold seal engraved with the word raku (“felicity”). The raku made in Kyōto are among the most…
Read More
Japanese potteryAzuchi-Momoyama period (1573–1600)His son Tanaka Chōjirō and his family extended this technique to the tea bowl, and about 1588 their wares were brought to the notice of Hideyoshi, who awarded them a gold seal engraved with the word raku (“felicity”). The raku made in Kyōto are among the most…
Read MoreHis son Tanaka Chōjirō and his family extended this technique to the tea bowl, and about 1588 their wares were brought to the notice of Hideyoshi, who awarded them a gold seal engraved with the word raku (“felicity”). The raku made in Kyōto are among the most…
Read More