Yakushiji Temple East Pagoda Foundation Clay Ash Glazed Tea Bowl by Rakusai Bisai

Width: 13.1cm Height: 7.3cm

Ash-glazed tea bowl made from clay from the base of the East Pagoda of Yakushiji Temple - By Rakusai Onishi

This bowl was made with clay from the base of the Yakushiji Temple East Pagoda, collected during repairs, and then coated with a straw ash glaze and finished with a reduction firing. The reddish-brown color of the old clay peeks out from beneath the yellowish ash glaze, creating a serene yet profound landscape. Below, we will explain the appeal of this piece in detail from five perspectives.

1. Clay - Foundation soil that holds the breath of 1,300 years

The soil used to make the base of the East Pagoda of Yakushiji Temple contains iron and silica, which are unique to the Nara Basin, and over the years minute mineral crystals have formed. Blending this with rough soil creates a moderate roughness in the clay, and even after firing, the quartz grains sparkle like stardust, evoking the history of the ancient pagoda.

2. Ash glaze and kiln changes – the contrast between pale yellow-green and reddish-brown created by the flames

The ash glaze, made by dissolving a small amount of feldspar in straw ash and wood ash, develops a pale yellow-green color when fired at a high, reducing temperature. The iron on the rim gives it a copper-colored hue, creating a "frame" effect that tightens the vessel. A small amount of ash glaze remains on the body along the wheel marks, creating horizontal lines reminiscent of ink stains. The glaze is cut off at the sides of the foot, exposing the reddish-brown color of the base clay and adding a warm accent to the space.

3. Shape: A neat bowl-shaped design reminiscent of a foundation stone

The slightly curved rim and slightly rounded cylindrical body evoke the silhouette of the Yakushiji pagoda stretching toward the sky. The two wheel marks in the center of the body are reminiscent of the stonework of the ancient pagoda base, and rhythmically catch the flow of the ash glaze.

4. Ease of use and practicality - Excellent functional beauty with a touch of wabi

The fine sand on the outer surface provides a comfortable friction to the fingertips, and the ash glaze on the inside has accumulated to a mirror-like finish, softly embracing the green of the matcha. The tea whisk feels smooth and the bubbles are finely balanced, and the base is thin yet rigid, making it sturdy enough to withstand everyday use.

5. Cultural Significance: A Tea Bowl Reflecting "Prayer" and "Rebirth"

The East Pagoda of Yakushiji Temple is known as "frozen music," and is a symbol that continues to protect the flame of the Dharma even after undergoing repairs. The use of foundation clay for this piece can be seen as an act of sealing eternal prayer into the tea bowl. The serene scenery of the ash glaze evokes a quiet place of prayer, and the moment of making matcha becomes a "ritual of rebirth" that connects the past and the present.

With its red copper rim floating in a pale yellow-green ash glaze, sparkling quartz grains in the clay, and the foundation clay that embodies the history of the East Pagoda of Yakushiji Temple, Onishi Rakusai's "Yakushiji East Pagoda Foundation Clay Ash Glazed Tea Bowl" is an exquisite bowl that holds in the palm of your hand a thousand years of prayer and the coincidence of flame. When placed at a tea ceremony, guests can savor the tranquility of the ancient pagoda along with the aroma of matcha, and be enveloped in the lingering echoes of timeless prayer.

A conversation with Onishi Rakusai – High-end pottery specialty store [Amagi Do]