Young bamboo tea bowl by Rakusai Onishi

Width: 12.5cm Height: 8.2cm

Onishi Rakusai's "Young Bamboo Tea Bowl" is a work that beautifully harmonizes the freshness of young bamboo, reminiscent of the cool breeze of early summer, with the splendor of gold leaf in one bowl. The white, transparent base is finely crazy, and the green of the green bamboo and the gold paint reminiscent of gold leaf intertwine to create a scene where tranquility and gaiety coexist. Below, we will introduce the appeal of this work in detail from five perspectives.

1. Shape and glaze

Neatly proportioned body <br data-start="229" data-end="232">The bulging body shape, which rises gently from the inside to the rim, is designed with an ideal ratio to make it easy for the matcha to foam evenly.

The subtleties of white glaze and crazing <br data-start="301" data-end="304">The base is covered in a slightly grayish white glaze, which after firing creates a delicate mesh of crazing. This is reminiscent of the light mist of a bamboo forest, and acts as a stage setting against which the green of the matcha is softly reflected.

2. Design: The freshness of young bamboo

Contrast of green bamboo and gold leaves <br data-start="432" data-end="435">The bamboo trunks are painted with colored paint based on verdigris, while the young leaves and undersides are adorned with gold paint. The complementary colors of blue and gold create a sense of coolness and elegance at the same time.

A continuous bamboo forest scene <br data-start="526" data-end="529">As the tea bowl is passed around, the rhythm of the bamboo forest, with its repeated density and spaces, emerges, and guests feel immersed as if they are strolling through a bamboo forest.

3. Techniques: A combination of Morie and Kinsai

Ryokumori
A thick layer of green paint is applied along the nodes and culms of the bamboo trunk, and then re-fired to give it a glossy, three-dimensional look.

Fine gold-mud lines are drawn on the veins and joints of the leaves, expressing the free-flowing momentum that symbolizes the growth of bamboo.

Multiple Firing <br data-start="770" data-end="773">By firing the piece two or three times, changing the temperature for each painting, we improve the color development and durability of the paint.

4. Functional beauty at the tea ceremony

Looks great with matcha <br data-start="857" data-end="860">Young bamboo is subtly painted on the inside as well, with the bamboo leaves casting shadows on the matcha surface. The greens blend together, giving your cup of tea the feeling of being imbued with the breath of the forest.

Versatility in Seasonal Feelings <br data-start="945" data-end="948">Young bamboo is ideal for tea ceremonies held from early to midsummer, such as the beginning of summer and Tanabata, but the design of "growing nodes" is also a symbol of success and growth, making it appropriate for celebratory occasions as well.

5. Cultural background and modernity

Bamboo has been featured repeatedly since ancient times as a symbol of "purity, integrity, and growth" in the tea ceremony, Noh costumes, lacquerware, etc. Onishi Rakusai reinterprets this traditional motif with a modern color scheme of pale white glaze and gold paint, creating a bold all-over decoration that looks like a bird's-eye view of a bamboo forest, achieving a lightness that stands out in modern tea ceremonies while maintaining the classical spirit.

The contrast between stillness and motion created by the green-green bamboo, the gold-hued young leaves, and the white glaze crazing - this piece captures in one bowl the refreshing feeling of the morning sun shining into a bamboo forest in early summer. If placed at a tea ceremony, guests will be able to sip a cup of tea while feeling the breeze of the bamboo forest blowing across their palms, and share the joy of the changing seasons and growth in a peaceful heart. Onishi Rakusai's young bamboo tea bowl is a truly auspicious masterpiece that combines the beauty of utility and the beauty of storytelling.

A conversation with Rakusai Onishi