White glaze abacus bead shaped water finger Yu Okada

Width: 23.4cm Height: 16.2cm

"White glazed abacus bead-shaped water jar" by Masaru Okada - "White abacus" crystallizes abstraction and functionality

Okada Masaru's White Glazed Abacus Bead-Shaped Water Jar is a beautiful fusion of a soft silhouette reminiscent of the curves of a series of abacus beads, and the tranquility created by the pure white glaze. The base, with its narrowed hem and highlighted with black paint, gently supports the white porcelain vessel, creating an atmosphere of both tension and serenity in the tea room. Below, we will introduce the charm of this piece from five perspectives: history, technique, design, spirituality, and use at the tea ceremony.

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1. Historical Background - The Genealogy of "Abacus-jugata" and the Significance of Mizujar

The Roots of the Abacus Bead Shape <br data-start="310" data-end="313">The abacus (abacus) was brought to Japan from China during the Muromachi period, and from the Edo period onwards, its "bead" shape was applied to tea ceremony and incense ceremony utensils. The rhythm created by the contrast between roundness and edges suggests the "order" and "infinity" of a tool that governs numbers, and resonates with the abstract view of the universe at the tea ceremony.

Symbolism as a water jar <br data-start="457" data-end="460">In the tea ceremony, the water jar is a tool that symbolizes "purity" and "moderation ." With a small opening and a bulging body, its abacus-like shape visually emphasizes the "calmness of the water" and plays a role in creating a central center of gravity for the entire arrangement.

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2. Techniques and materials: the dichotomy between white glaze and black finish

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3. Design: Geometric shapes of overlapping cones and shadows of white porcelain

Bicone form <br data-start="1001" data-end="1004">The upper part of the body juts outward and tapers gently below the center, creating an abstract image of a succession of abacus beads. The curves that deflect the eye bring a sense of dynamic balance to the tranquility of the tea ceremony.

Expressions of the white glaze <br data-start="1107" data-end="1110">Although it appears pristine at first glance, upon closer inspection extremely fine crazing can be seen, along with a warm creamy white color caused by the reduction of the flame. It is brilliant in the way it conveys Japanese beauty, which celebrates shadow, with a minimum of information.

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4. Spirituality - The transition between "calculation" and "emptiness"

While the abacus symbolizes the "knowledge" of manipulating numbers, the white color suggests the Zen-like "emptiness." In this work, Okada Masaru presents the paradoxical message of "innocence as the result of thorough calculation." The viewer can imagine the artist's trial and error hidden behind the perfectly controlled curved surface, and at the same time project their own heart into the blank space of the white porcelain. This deeply resonates with the fundamental ideal of the tea ceremony, which is to "align the hearts of the host and the guest."

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summary

The White Glazed Abacus Bead-Shaped Water Jar is a masterpiece of modern tea ceremony utensils that combines abstract beauty, functional beauty, and spiritual beauty . This "white" that intersects mathematical design and Zen white space will have a strong presence not only in tea rooms, but also in the lobbies of modern architecture and gallery spaces that aim for minimalist art.

— Perfectly designed white space is what holds the most freedom in the universe.
Okada Masaru's philosophy comes across quietly but with a clear resonance.

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