Nara tea bowl with Goki style painting by Rakusai Onishi

Width: 11.7cm Height: 8.1cm

Onishi Rakusai's Goki style Nara painting tea bowl features a bold Goki design, which originated from rice bowls from the Joseon Dynasty of Korea, and a light Nara painting in a band around it, creating a bowl that strikes a striking balance between wabi and elegance. The design, which has pine trees, shrines, and nobles as its themes, is reminiscent of the imperial culture of the ancient capital of Nara, and adds a rich narrative quality to conversations at the tea ceremony. Below, we will introduce the appeal of this piece from five perspectives.

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1. Shape and clay

The volume unique to the Go-ware style <br data-start="235" data-end="238">The bowl shape, with a moderately taut body and a modestly narrowed rim, creates an ideal silhouette that allows the whisk to rotate naturally and facilitates the creation of an even layer of foam.

Sanpowari
The three-sided base inherits the design of Korean rice bowls, providing both a good grip and a sense of stability. The rough, sandy texture of the base material provides a comfortable grip for your fingertips.

The tranquility of pale celadon glaze <br data-start="409" data-end="412">The pale celadon glaze that covers the lower half of the exterior and interior makes the green of the matcha stand out softly, providing a stage that elegantly highlights the color saturation of the Nara-e obi.

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2. Nara Picture Design - Moving Scrolls

Two-tiered belt structure <br data-start="511" data-end="514">The two cobalt blue belts, divided into upper and lower sections down the center of the bowl, act as a frame for the white Nara-e obi. Each time the bowl is turned, the upper and lower scrolls appear alternately, creating a dynamic rhythm.

Accents of pine and red berries <br data-start="616" data-end="619">The pine trunks are made of red berries and iron, the leaves are made of verdigris, and scattered red berries add rhythm to the colors. The design echoes the green of matcha tea.

The Nobleman and the Kagura Hall <br data-start="691" data-end="694">A scene in which a nobleman in red robes sits in a pavilion, an empty torii gate, and a long banquet table are painted in relay style, unfolding a story reminiscent of ancient festivals.

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3. Techniques - The mysteries of five colors in Kyoto ware

Extremely fine iron paint lines <br data-start="789" data-end="792">The outlines are pressed down with iron paint, and "smooth lines" are maintained down to the finest details, giving the simple design a refined dignity.

Layers of verdigris, cinnabar, and ochre <br data-start="864" data-end="867">The coloring follows the traditional five colors, but the piece is fired twice at gradually changing temperatures, giving the colored surface a luster and depth.

Blurring of the cobalt blue obi <br data-start="938" data-end="941">The indigo blue obi is blurred leaving brush marks visible, visually softening the boundary between stillness and movement.

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4. Functional beauty at the tea ceremony

Matcha looks great <br data-start="1017" data-end="1020">The pale blue glaze on the inside brings out the jade green of the matcha in a pure way, and the white bubbles create a beautiful contrast with the indigo blue of the gosu belt.

Space for storytelling <br data-start="1082" data-end="1085">The ribbon-shaped Nara painting has the feel of a picture scroll. As the host turns the bowl, he can share with his guests tales of festivals in the ancient capital and anecdotes about nobles.

Versatility for all seasons <br data-start="1160" data-end="1163">Universal motifs such as pine trees and shrines are suitable for a wide range of tea ceremonies, from New Year's to autumn moon-viewing, and another attractive feature is the high degree of freedom in how they can be combined.

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5. Cultural background and modernity

The Goki style is a symbol of the "wabi" (wabi) of Momoyama tea ceremony pottery, while Nara-e is an image of the "elegance" that flourished in the early Edo period. This work combines these two major trends in one bowl, and further adds a modern, refreshing feel with the light celadon glaze and gosu belt. Onishi Rakusai has brilliantly achieved a design balance that is based on the classics while blending comfortably into modern tea ceremonies.

The Nara painting, sandwiched between the indigo band, spins a story every time the bowl is turned, and the tranquility of the pale celadon glaze embraces the pure green of the matcha. Onishi Rakusai's Goki-gata Nara painting tea bowl is a "moving picture scroll" that combines the beauty of utility and the beauty of storytelling. If placed at a tea ceremony, guests will be able to enjoy a cup of matcha and elegant conversation while feeling the breeze of the ancient capital.

A conversation with Rakusai Onishi