White glaze abacus bead shaped water finger Yu Okada

Width: 23.4cm Height: 16.2cm

"White Glazed Abacus Bead-Shaped Water Jar" by Masaru Okada - A "White Abacus" that crystallizes abstraction and functionality

Okada Masaru's White Glazed Abacus Bead-Shaped Water Jar is a work that beautifully combines a soft silhouette reminiscent of the curves of abacus beads with the tranquility created by the pure white glaze. The base, with its drawn hem and accentuated black finish, gently supports the white porcelain vessel, creating an atmosphere of both tension and serenity in the tea room. Below, we will take a closer look at the appeal of this piece from five perspectives: history, technique, design, spirituality, and use at the tea ceremony.

1. Historical Background - The Genealogy of the "Abacus Bead Shape" and the Significance of the Water Jar

The roots of the abacus bead shape <br data-end="313" data-start="310">The abacus (soroban) was introduced to Japan from China during the Muromachi period, and from the Edo period onwards, the bead shape was applied to tea ceremony utensils and incense ceremony utensils. The rhythm created by the contrast between roundness and edges suggests the "order" and "infinity" of a tool that controls numbers, and resonates with the abstract view of the universe at the tea ceremony.

Symbolism as a water jar <br data-end="460" data-start="457">In the tea ceremony, the water jar is a tool that symbolizes "purity" and "moderation ." Its small opening and bulging body, reminiscent of an abacus, visually emphasize the "tranquility of the water" and create a central center of gravity for the entire arrangement.

2. Techniques and Materials: The Dichotomy Between White Glaze and Black Glaze

3. Design - Geometry of overlapping cones and shadows of white porcelain

Bicone form <br data-end="1004" data-start="1001">The upper body bulges outward and tapers gently below the center, creating an abstract image of a series of abacus beads. The curves that deflect the eye bring a sense of dynamic balance to the tranquility of the tea ceremony.

The expression of the white glaze <br data-end="1110" data-start="1107">Although it appears pristine at first glance, upon closer inspection, extremely fine crazing is faintly apparent, revealing a warm creamy white color caused by the reduction of the flame. It is excellent in that it conveys the Japanese beauty of celebrating shadows with minimal information.

4. Spirituality - The transition between "calculation" and "emptiness"

While the abacus symbolizes the "knowledge" of manipulating numbers, white suggests the Zen concept of "emptiness." In this work, Okada Masaru presents the paradoxical message of "innocence as the result of thorough calculation." The viewer can imagine the artist's trial and error hidden behind the perfectly controlled curves, and at the same time, reflect their own heart in the blank spaces of the white porcelain. This deeply resonates with the fundamental ideal of the tea ceremony, which is to "unite the hearts of host and guest."

The White Glazed Abacus Bead-Shaped Water Jar is a masterpiece of modern tea ceremony utensils that unites abstract beauty, functional beauty, and spiritual beauty . This "white" that intersects mathematical design with Zen white space will have a strong presence not only in tea rooms, but also in the lobbies of modern architecture and minimalist art-oriented gallery spaces.

— Perfectly designed white space is what holds the most free universe.
Okada Masaru's philosophy is conveyed quietly but with a definite resonance.

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