Black Glazed New Moon Tea Bowl by Suwa Sozan

Width: 10.6cm Height: 7.6cm

This piece, "Black Glaze Crescent Moon Tea Bowl," was created by Suwa Sozan IV, and as its name suggests, it is based on the motif of a new moon (black moon) floating quietly in the night sky. The all-black glaze is not just a "color," but symbolically represents the universe itself, or the tranquility of the new moon, which can also be called the "invisible moon."

At first glance, this piece may give the impression of being simple and devoid of decorative elements, but in reality, it is a dialogue between the form and the glaze, and is deeply imbued with the artist's philosophy of "representing what cannot be seen."In contrast to vessels such as celadon and white porcelain, which are enveloped in light, this tea bowl exudes a unique presence as it is enveloped in darkness .

New Moon and Black Moon

At the new moon, the moon passes between the sun and the earth, and its illuminated side is not visible from the earth, so it disappears from the night sky. This "invisible moon" has been revered since ancient times in the East as a symbol of rebirth, purification, and introspection . The "black moon" holds a special significance within this.

The moon waxes and wanes in a cycle of approximately 29.5 days, but due to calendar discrepancies, there are rare occasions when there are two new moons in a month. This second new moon is a phenomenon known as a "black moon," an astronomical moment that occurs only once every few years .

In the context of Western astrology and mystical thought, the Black Moon period is considered a time to "face the depths of your heart," and is considered a suitable time for prayer, meditation, or spiritual detoxification, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Inspired by this mysterious astronomical phenomenon, Sozan created a vessel that quietly embraces light, based on the theme of "invisible beauty" rather than "visible beauty."

Black glaze: a light-absorbing surface

The glaze used is a deep, matte black, but this is not just a single color black; it is a dense, multi-layered black brought about by the natural iron content of the glaze . If you look closely, you can see the movement and graininess of the glaze within the black, giving it the appearance of faint stars twinkling in the night sky.

The iron powder and crystals that appear on the surface during firing also give life to the vessel as unintentional decoration, creating an extremely rich visual experience despite the lack of decoration. This is exactly the same as the "presence of the invisible" that one feels when gazing intently at the quiet night sky.

A vessel shape that celebrates the moon

The shape of the piece has a neatly rounded outline and a slightly high base, giving it a calm and stable appearance. The unglazed area around the base retains the warmth of the earth due to the color of the fired base, giving the viewer the impression of looking up at the moon from the earth.

Another distinctive feature is the slightly deeper depth of the cup, which allows you to enjoy the poetic image of the moon's shadow floating among the bubbles when making tea. Holding the quiet moon in your hands, you can clear your mind . This is the essence of this teacup.

Beauty is the power to reflect the invisible

The greatest appeal of this tea bowl is that, paradoxically, it most eloquently expresses the visual absence of "not being able to see the moon." It allows us to find beauty in the invisible, sense light in the darkness, and superimpose the depths of the universe onto the bowl. This is perhaps in line with the "beauty of white space" and "beauty of nothingness" that have been cultivated in Eastern aesthetics since ancient times.

If celadon is a vessel that reflects light, then this black-glazed crescent moon tea bowl is a vessel that harbors darkness. Suwa Sozan's expression truly explores the beauty that exists between the visible and the invisible, presence and absence, light and darkness , and it continues to evoke fresh emotions even today.

Pray to the new moon vessel

The Black Glazed Crescent Moon Tea Bowl is more than just a tea bowl; it is a universe, a place of meditation, and a symbol of prayer. There is no tea bowl more suitable for a time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, when you can listen carefully to the silence.

On a black moon night, if you pick up this tea bowl in a dimly lit tea room, clear your mind as you absorb the tranquil aroma of matcha, another "inner universe" may emerge.