Mt. Fuji and Pine Tea Bowl by Rakusai Onishi

Width: 14.3cm Height: 7.5cm

This work by Onishi Rakusai features two symbols of the Japanese mental landscape, Mount Fuji and a pine tree, in a single bowl, creating an outstanding design that simultaneously speaks of auspiciousness and scenic beauty. Utilizing the simple texture of the rough clay, the work is skillfully painted with gold and patina, creating a unique worldview where wabi and miyabi resonate with each other. Below, we will explain its appeal in detail from five perspectives.

1. Shape and clay

A neat bowl shape <br data-start="218" data-end="221">The body is slightly bulging and tapers gently towards the rim, creating ideal proportions that allow the chasen to rotate naturally and create an even foam.

Scenery of rough clay <br data-start="296" data-end="299">By firing the clay, which is rich in iron, under a slightly reducing temperature, fine spots and scorch marks are created, giving the entire piece a rustic feel reminiscent of mountainside or pine bark.

Golden Haze in the Foreground <br data-start="377" data-end="380">The inside is printed with pale gold mica gold leaf, creating a stage where the snow-capped Mount Fuji is illuminated by the dawn light in the background. When the green of matcha is added, the purple of Mount Fuji shines through the golden haze, completing a breathtaking landscape.

2. Design - Auspicious symbols of Mt. Fuji and pine

Pine Trees <br data-start="497" data-end="500">A row of pine trees covers the entire exterior, their trunks powerfully painted in red clay and gold paint, and their leaves rendered in three dimensions with verdigris and green glaze. As an evergreen tree, the pine is a symbol of "longevity and immutability," bringing permanence and tranquility to the tea ceremony.

Distant View of Mt. Fuji <br data-start="601" data-end="604">A purplish snow-capped Mt. Fuji is depicted at the back of the bowl, creating a sense of "manifestation" as the view opens up the moment the bowl is emptied. The pine trees on the outside form the foreground, while Mt. Fuji on the inside forms the background, creating a sense of perspective depth within the bowl.

Golden Dawn <br data-start="711" data-end="714">The gold paint on the inside suggests the rising sun, while the pointillist gold on the outside suggests the sunlight filtering through the pine trees, skillfully balancing the light of stillness and movement.

3. Technique - A combination of underglaze and overglaze painting

Scraping and painting <br data-start="813" data-end="816">A thin layer of white paint is applied to the rough clay, and then the pine branches are scraped out using line engraving. Red clay paint is then applied into the grooves, making the unevenness of the trunk stand out realistically.

Verdigris Laced <br data-start="893" data-end="896">The pine needles are thickly coated with verdigris, and re-fired to give them a glossy, translucent appearance. Gold paint is inserted into the leaf veins, giving them a fresh yet elegant look.

Brushed with mica gold <br data-start="971" data-end="974">The gold paint on the inside is applied thinly with a brush in a dawn-like pattern, creating a soft, flickering effect depending on the light source.

4. Functional beauty at the tea ceremony

Matcha shines <br data-start="1059" data-end="1062">The gold on the interior walls softly reflects the green of the matcha, and combined with the purple of Mount Fuji, creates the image of a sunrise on the tea surface.

The joy of storytelling <br data-start="1125" data-end="1128">The host will add a story such as "Pines live for a thousand years, and Mount Fuji lives for ten thousand years," and enjoy a conversation with his guests wishing them longevity and prosperity.

Versatile for all seasons <br data-start="1193" data-end="1196">Pine trees and Mt. Fuji are auspicious motifs that can be used throughout the year, and are suitable for a wide range of occasions, from the first tea ceremony of the New Year to the harvest moon ceremony in autumn.

5. Cultural background and modernity

Since ancient times, Mount Fuji has been associated with "Fuji = unique" and "immortality = eternal life," while the pine tree, with its evergreen leaves, symbolizes longevity. By reconstructing this classic combination with the wabi aesthetic of rough clay and the elegance of gold leaf, Onishi Rakusai has achieved a lightness that stands out even in modern tea ceremonies. Furthermore, the design, which hides Mount Fuji at the back of the tea ceremony, elevates the act of drinking itself into a "ritual that unveils the scenery," integrating the vessel and the gesture.

Pine trees rooted in the barren earth, purple Mount Fuji towering in the distance, and a golden haze reminiscent of the morning sun - Onishi Rakusai's Fuji ni Pine tea bowl is a gem that allows you to experience timeless nature and auspiciousness in the palm of your hand. Place it at a tea ceremony, and as your guests turn the bowl and sip their matcha, they will enjoy a scenic journey that embodies the essence of Japanese aesthetics.

A conversation with Rakusai Onishi