Japanese Ceramics

Japan has one of the oldest ceramic cultures of the world. Probably it were the ancestors of the ainu/yemishi who started making unglazed ceramics some 5000 years b.c (Jomon period).During the Yayoi period (-250 - +250), the ainu were driven away to the northern part of Japan. New influences came from the continent which towards the beginning of the Kofun period (250 - 538) resulted in two types of ceramics called Hajiki and Sueki. Well known examples of Hajiki ceramic art are the "Haniwa figures" found around the tombs. Note that Sueki ceramics were only found within the tombs. They have great resemblance with Korean art of that time.

Objects from the late Kofun period tell us that the potter's wheel and the anagama oven were introduced. Despite these new techniques we have to wait until the Nara period to see the first ceramics with an applied glaze decoration. These so-called Nara sansai were almost exact copies of Chinese Tang ceramics. The spread of Nara Sansai was restricted to the upper class of Japan and disappeared with the introduction of the Heian period (782-1184).Hajiki and Sueki ceramics continued to exist (they underwent some metamorphoses) . The production of Sueki moved from the Kinai district to the Mikawa province. The most important kilns were located at the foot of the Sanage mountain near Nagoya and therefor also called "Sanage" ceramics. From the 10th century on, oxidation techniques permitted to make light brown bodies. The new type of ceramic was called "Shiki".

Ceramic art gained popularity during the Kamakura period (1185 - 1332).The military culture as well as the introduction of Zen Bhudism evolved new styles. Seto, Bizen, Echizen, Shigaraki, Tamba and Tokoname, referred to as the "six old kilns", are the main production areas counting (all together) 34 kilns. Each of these production areas will develop a particular style during the coming centuries.

An important change in the history of Japanese ceramics came at the end of the 16th century. Toyotami Hideyoshi who succeeded in the reunification of Japan tried to re-establish commercial contacts with China (1592); the Chinese refused. Hideyoshi decided to attack China but he had first to conquer Korea. During these wars Korean potters were brought to Japan. New techniques were introduced and let to the invention of porcelain in Japan. It also influenced ceramic art. There is something more to tell about Hideyoshi. In 1587 he organised a large tea-ceremony near Kyoto. Very soon the tea-ceremony gained great popularity. As we all know, ceramic art and tea-ceremony are closely related subjects. Mino ware was the first answer to "tea-art". Kyoto too played a significant role (Raku, Kyoyaki). Later on the southern part of Honshu (Hagi ceramics) and the Island Kyushu (Agano, Takatori, Karatsu, Satsuma…) became important production centres as well. The origin of the tea ceremony is of course much older (we refer to tea-master Murata Shuko (1422-1502). But most people remember the names of great masters such as Sen no Rikyu (1521-1591), Furuta Oribe (1544-1615), Kobori Enshu (1579-1647) or Kanamori Sowa (1584-1656) who were all born during the 16th century.

So far we only spoke about "Production Areas" but we never mentioned a "potter" in particular. From the 16th century on, some artists became famous as a "potter", for example Tanaka Chojiro (the inventor of Raku) or Honami Koetsu (he also became famous in other art forms). Great masters from the 17th and 18th century are Nonomura Ninsei (1627-1695) and Ogata Kenzan (1663-1743). Also the 19th and 20th century have had many renowned artists. Some of these modern artists are mentioned hereafter. Kenkichi Tomimoto, Kanjiro Kawai, Kei Fujiwara, Uichi Shimizu, Kosei Matsui, Kichizaemon raku….