Theory of Art Creation 3: What is the Finest Tea Bowl?

It is rude to think about which culture is superior, Japanese or Chinese, but that is simply co-dependence, and most of the debate follows the established theory that Japan has its own unique interpretation of the culture that was introduced from China. A friend of mine, a student studying abroad from China, mentioned that he had the opportunity to drink "toso sake" in Japan, and expressed his excitement at the fact that toso, which in China was only known from poetry and prose from a thousand years ago, is rarely available in Japanese izakayas. Drinking toso sake is an ancient Chinese custom of celebrating the New Year. It was popular during the Tang Dynasty to ward off evil spirits for the year. It is customary for people to drink it in the New Year, starting from the youngest to the oldest.
It is questionable whether Japanese toso is made with the same exact blend of seven herbs as in ancient China, and it may simply be sold under the same trademark. However, according to the international student, the subtle aroma of Chinese medicine is what gives toso its flavor.

One of the tea bowls that disappeared in China but remain in Japan is the Tenmoku tea bowl. It would be a jump to say that the Tenmoku tea bowl is the highest quality tea bowl, but it can be said that it is the most important tea bowl used in the tea ceremony. The tea ceremony was born in Japan and has become a unique part of Japanese culture. However, a wide variety of Chinese porcelain tea bowls have been adopted, including the Tenmoku tea bowl.

Porcelain in particular is the very essence of Chinese culture. How many Chinese pieces of porcelain are revered at tea ceremonies? Currently, there are 14 pieces of ceramics designated as national treasures in Japan, of which 9 are made in China.
Concerning tea bowls alone, there are eight national treasures: one Hakuraku tea bowl, one Shino tea bowl, all made in Japan, and one Ido tea bowl from Korea; the rest are all Tenmoku tea bowls made in China.
None of the works that would be out of place as national treasures, such as Rikyu's Kuroraku ware, Oribe's Kutsugata ware, or Mino kiln's Kiseto ware, are included.

In the Japanese tea ceremony, emphasis was placed on how to appreciate tea utensils such as tea bowls. The oldest tea book in Japan, Eisai's "Kissa Yojoki" (completed in 1221), explains the medicinal properties of tea and how drinking tea is a means of maintaining health, but makes no mention at all of how to drink tea deliciously. Later works such as Shie Hoin's "Kissa Orai," Soami's "Kindai Kansochoki," and Yamagami Soji's "Yamagami Soza-ki" mainly talk about the appearance of the tea room, how to decorate tea utensils, and the origins of famous tea utensils. The tea ceremony is not a ceremony for drinking tea, but a ceremony for appreciating tea utensils. In other words, it was a ceremony for showing off the tea utensils one possessed.

Let's think about Tenmoku tea bowls. Tenmoku tea bowls are black porcelain tea bowls fired in China during the Song Dynasty (990-1297). Their main feature is the jet black glaze, but the clay, glaze color, and pattern vary depending on the kiln in which they are fired. Tenmoku tea bowls are the Japanese name for these bowls, and in China they are called black zan (zan means tea bowl). They were originally everyday utensils at a Zen temple in Tianmu Mountain, Zhejiang Province, and were brought back by Japanese Zen monks, and so came to be called Tenmoku tea bowls.
There are only three Yohen Tenmoku tea bowls in the world (at the Seikado Bunko Art Museum, the Fujita Museum, and the Daitokuji Ryukoin Temple), all of which are in Japan and are designated as national treasures. Yohen Tenmoku tea bowls have a thick, jet-black glaze with a series of large and small silver spots, which are surrounded by a halo of mysterious lapis lazuli light. The origin of the name Yohen Tenmoku has yet to be agreed upon between Japanese and Chinese ceramic researchers. Japanese researchers claim that it was named in Japan, while Chinese researchers claim that it was named in China. However, it seems that the word "Yohen" first appeared in Japanese literature, and even in the Song and Ming dynasties, the name "Yohen" was interpreted as an abnormality of the sun, moon, and five stars. It was an abhorrent word, so it is interpreted that it would not have been used on tea bowls for enjoying tea in ancient China. Therefore, it is far more likely that it was a Japanese tea master who named it "Yohen."

While Japanese shoguns and tea masters sought the value of Chinese goods and the beauty of tea bowls, Chinese emperors and potters placed emphasis on how to appreciate tea utensils such as tea bowls in the Japanese tea ceremony, which is symbolized by tea bowls. The oldest tea book in Japan, Eisai's "Kissa Yojoki" (Record of Drinking Tea for Health) (published in 1221), explains the medicinal properties of tea and pursues the ideal of drinking tea . Whether good or bad, this also shows the differences between Chinese and Japanese cultures.

Tenmoku tea bowls were originally created with the rise of the matcha tea-making method. They were popular in China during the Northern Song and Southern Song dynasties, but disappeared during the Yuan and Ming dynasties as the leaf tea and bubble tea method came to prominence. Despite being made in China, not a single one remains there. Not only are there no physical examples remaining, but they cannot be found in Chinese documents.
The Kimitai Kansocho-ki divides imported Tenmoku tea bowls into seven types: Yohen, Yuteki, Kenzan, Karaszan, Beizan, and Nohizan, and provides detailed descriptions ranging from "thousands of pieces" to "Dai Yasushi" (cheap). Although many aspects of this classification are unclear, it shows just how many Tenmoku tea bowls were imported. It also shows that Yohen and Yuteki were already highly valued by tea aristocrats, centered around the Ashikaga Shogunate. The situation changed in the Song Dynasty. Black porcelain, especially black porcelain tea bowls, that is, Tenmoku tea bowls, began to be fired in large quantities all over the country. These Tenmoku tea bowls were imported to Japan from the Kamakura to Muromachi periods, and were used in the tea ceremony along with celadon tea bowls.

Just because it is a national treasure does not mean it is the most valuable, but it can certainly be said to be the most important.