Sake cup, Monkey, Takahashi Dohachi

Width: 6.1cm Height: 4.5cm

This piece features a tranquil milky white glaze on which the "Sarumon" (monkey character), reminiscent of ancient pictograms, is quietly engraved.
This work is part of the "Twelve Zodiac Sake Cups" series by Takahashi Michihachi IX, and is considered to be a symbol of "wisdom and harmony."
In the soft white scenery, the rhythm of the engraved lines continues like breathing, creating a wonderful fusion of the aesthetic beauty and spirituality of the Dohachi family.

1. Sculptural beauty - a symmetry and softness

The shape is bowl-shaped with a slightly open rim, and the body is bulging while smoothly converging towards the base.
The base is slightly higher, providing a sense of stability and lightness when picked up.
Although it is small, its stable proportions are infused with Kudai's distinctive delicate sense of balance.

2. Glaze - A warm, milky white surface

The glaze that covers the entire piece is a soft white with a slight yellowish tint.
When exposed to light, it develops a soft luster and tiny crazes appear in the glaze.
One of the joys of using it over the years is the "changing appearance" of the vessel as it soaks in sake and tea and its appearance gradually deepens.
The pale fire color near the base adds a natural warmth to the entire piece.

3. Design - The symbol of wisdom and change contained in the "Shinbun"

The continuous pattern carved under the rim represents an abstracted monkey.
The flowing curves evoke the agility and flexibility of animals and symbolize the flow of life.
Since ancient times, monkeys have been revered as the "protectors of wisdom and the arts," and have also been considered symbols of "language" and "learning."
This symbolism is softly present within the tranquil surface of the glaze.

4. Technique - The ingenuity of relief expression using line engraving

The patterns are engraved one stroke at a time with an iron stylus during the drying stage, and the glaze melts and flows during firing,
It is designed so that shadows emerge depending on the angle of the light.
This "glaze relief" effect allows the piece to be decorative but not overly assertive.
It creates a tranquil expression as a vessel while maintaining overall harmony.

5. Historical and Cultural Background - Reinterpretation of Zodiac Designs

Since ancient times, zodiac patterns have been used on vessels and textiles as symbols of directions, seasons, and guardian deities.
The monkey governs the southwest direction and is an important design in ancient rituals as a messenger of the gods.
The ninth generation, Takahashi Michihachi, reconstructed this traditional pattern with a modern design sensibility,
It is being reborn not as a religious monument, but as a beauty of everyday life.

The ninth generation Takahashi Michihachi studied fashion design before moving into pottery. In 1996, he became an apprentice to the eighth generation, and in 2012 he succeeded to the name of the ninth generation.
He is highly regarded as an artist who elevates the beauty of traditional Kyoto ware patterns into modern compositions and tense forms.

This work, "Sake Cup Monkey," is a fine piece in which soft engraved lines float as if telling a story amid the tranquility of the white glaze.
When you hold it in your palm, you will feel as if the vessel itself is speaking to you with its quiet wisdom.
It is a "vessel of spiritual power" that leads to a peaceful exchange of hearts during tea ceremonies or evening drinks.