Young bamboo tea bowl by Rakusai Onishi

Width: 12.5cm Height: 8.2cm

Onishi Rakusai's "Young Bamboo Tea Bowl" is a work that beautifully harmonizes the freshness of young bamboo, reminiscent of the cool breeze of early summer, with the splendor of gold leaf, all in one bowl. The translucent white base is delicately crazing, and the green of the green bamboo and the gold paint reminiscent of gold leaf intertwine to create a scene where tranquility and splendor coexist. Below, we will introduce the appeal of this work in detail from five perspectives.

1. Shape and glaze

The elegant proportions of the body <br data-start="229" data-end="232">The body shape, which rises gently from the inside to the rim, is designed with ideal proportions to make it easy for matcha to foam evenly.

The beauty of white glaze and crazing <br data-start="301" data-end="304">The base is covered in a slightly grayish white glaze, and after firing the crazing creates a delicate mesh pattern. This evokes the light mist of a bamboo forest, creating a stage setting that softly reflects the green of the matcha.

2. Design - The freshness of young bamboo

Contrast between green bamboo and gold leaves <br data-start="432" data-end="435">The bamboo trunks are painted with verdigris-based colored paint, while the young leaves and undersides are adorned with gold paint. The complementary colors of blue and gold create a feeling of coolness and elegance at the same time.

A continuous bamboo forest scene <br data-start="526" data-end="529">As the tea bowl is passed around, the rhythm of the bamboo forest, with its repeated denseness and gaps, emerges, and guests are immersed in the experience, as if they were strolling through a bamboo forest.

3. Techniques: A combination of Morie and gold leaf

Ryokumori
A thick layer of green paint is applied along the nodes and culms of the bamboo trunk, and then re-fired to give it a glossy, three-dimensional appearance.

Fine gold lines <br data-start="708" data-end="711">Extremely fine gold lines are drawn on the leaf veins and nodes, expressing the free-flowing momentum that symbolizes the growth of bamboo.

Multiple firing <br data-start="770" data-end="773">By firing the piece two or three times, changing the temperature for each painting, we improve the color development and durability of the colors.

4. Functional beauty at the tea ceremony

Looks great with matcha <br data-start="857" data-end="860">Young bamboo is subtly depicted on the inside as well, with the bamboo leaves casting shadows on the matcha surface. The greens blend together, giving your cup the feeling of being imbued with the breath of the forest.

Versatile seasonal design <br data-start="945" data-end="948">Young bamboo is ideal for tea ceremonies held from early to midsummer, such as at the start of summer and on Tanabata, but the design of "growing joints" is also a symbol of success and growth, making it suitable for celebratory occasions as well.

5. Cultural background and modernity

Bamboo has long been a symbol of purity, integrity, and growth, and has been featured repeatedly in the tea ceremony, Noh costumes, lacquerware, and more. Onishi Rakusai has reinterpreted this traditional motif with a modern color palette of pale white glaze and gold paint, creating a bold, all-over decoration that resembles a bird's-eye view of a bamboo forest, achieving a lightness that stands out in modern tea ceremonies while maintaining the spirit of the classics.

The contrast between stillness and movement created by the green-green young bamboo, the gold-tinted young leaves, and the white glaze crazing - this piece captures in one bowl the refreshing feeling of the morning sun shining through a bamboo grove in early summer. Placed at a tea ceremony, guests can savor a cup of tea while feeling the breeze of the bamboo grove blowing across their palms, quietly sharing in the joy of the changing seasons and growth. Onishi Rakusai's young bamboo tea bowl is a truly auspicious masterpiece, combining the beauty of utility with the beauty of storytelling.

A conversation with Rakusai Onishi