Sake cup "Dragon" by Takahashi Dohachi

Width: 6.1cm Height: 4.5cm

This piece, "Dragon," is one of the "Twelve Zodiac Sake Cups" series by Takahashi Michihachi IX, and features carvings reminiscent of ancient pictograms quietly floating in a gentle milky white glaze.
The powerful yet tranquil design embodies the spirit of the dragon as a symbol of good fortune, and is a wonderful blend of the traditions of Kyoto ware and modern design sensibilities.

1. Beauty of Form - Dignified elegance, movement within stillness

The shape of the vessel is moderately bulging at the body and gently opens towards the rim. The base is slightly high, giving the vessel a sense of tension and lightness.
The overall lines are elegant, and when you hold it in your hand it feels stable, as if it is naturally drawn to the center, giving you a sense of the beauty of ``movement in stillness'' that is unique to Kudai-sama.

2. Glaze - A milky white glaze that catches the light softly

The glaze is a slightly thick milky white with fine crazes on the surface that softly diffuse light.
A faint fire color appears around the base, creating warm shadows among the white.
Depending on the angle from which you view it, faint pools of glaze appear, creating a delicate scene that evokes the pulse of life amidst the quietness.

3. Design - The symbol of sublimation and rebirth in the "Dragon" design

The inscription around the bottom of the rim is an abstraction of the character "Tatsu" (dragon) derived from ancient characters.
The continuous engraved lines are reminiscent of the undulating motion of a dragon, and represent symbols of ascent, dynamism, and awakening.
The Dragon is the only sacred animal among the twelve Chinese zodiac animals, and as a being that soars through the heavens, it represents "rebirth" and "rising energy."
In this work, this symbolism is expressed as a slight movement within the tranquil white glaze, giving the viewer a quiet sense of exhilaration.

4. Technique: A fusion of line engraving and underglaze relief

After the clay is shaped on a potter's wheel and dried, the inscriptions are carefully engraved one stroke at a time using an iron stylus.
When the glazing is applied, a thin layer of glaze seeps into the recesses of the engraved lines, and when it melts during firing, it creates a relief-like shadow that reflects light slightly.
The thickness of the glaze is precisely adjusted, and the lines are just the right depth, creating a stunning three-dimensional effect within the glaze.

5. Historical and cultural background - The symbolism of the dragon and the spirit of the vessel

The dragon symbolizes the East, spring, and the Azure Dragon, and is said to be in charge of the budding of all life.
Since ancient times, dragons have been revered as deities that connect water and heaven, and in the world of ceramics they have also been favored as symbols of strength and spirituality.
Takahashi Dohachi IX has reconstructed this traditional symbolism within a modern minimalist style, elevating it into a form that evokes the flow of energy in its unadorned stillness.

The ninth generation Takahashi Michihachi studied fashion design and then studied under the eighth generation in 1996, and succeeded to the name of the ninth generation in 2012.
While inheriting the beauty of traditional Kyoto ware patterns, they pursue vessels that harmonize with modern spaces by refining the balance of lines, glazes, and shapes to the utmost.

This "Sake Cup Dragon" is a masterpiece in which engraved inscriptions reminiscent of the breath of a dragon flicker subtly within the tranquility of the milky white glaze.
When you hold it in your palm, you feel a powerful energy rising up to the heavens from within.
This is a sake cup that is truly full of spirit and energy, combining the dignity of a sake vessel with spirituality.