Yellow-gray incense burner by Okada Yu

Width: 10.0cm Height: 13.2cm

"Yellow Ash Glazed Incense Burner" by Masaru Okada - The golden scenery created by wood ash and the ancient rhythm played by the tripod

With its soft golden glaze and ancient form capturing the earth with three points, Okada Masaru's Yellow Ash Glazed Incense Burner is a work that combines warm colors reminiscent of the Momoyama period's **Kiseto** with a contemporary sculptural balance. Every time the incense smoke rises, the luster and shadows emitted by the ash glaze flicker, bringing a quiet, festive feeling to the space. The charm of this piece will be introduced in detail in the following five chapters: history, technique, design, spirituality, and incense ceremony use .

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1. Historical Background - The Intersection of Kiseto and Incense Burner Culture

The Lineage of Kiseto Kiseto ware, which flourished in Mino kilns during the Momoyama period, is characterized by its soft rapeseed oil color, which is obtained by oxidizing and firing an iron-containing wood ash glaze. Along with Raku ware and Oribe ware, it was beloved by tea masters from Sen no Rikyu onward as a new form of beauty that embodied the ideals of wabi-cha tea.

The history of incense burners <br data-start="394" data-end="397">Incense burners began as ritual implements in Nara Buddhism, and from the Muromachi period onwards they came to be valued in both monkou (smelting incense) and the tea ceremony. Examples of Kiseto-style incense burners can be seen from the early Edo period, and those with tripod stands in particular incorporated the design of the Chinese bronze "kanae" (cauldron)**, symbolizing auspiciousness and stability.

Okada Masaru's Perspective <br data-start="539" data-end="542">Keeping this historical layer in mind, Okada Masaru has reinterpreted the piece by combining the gloss of the yellow-gray glaze with a tripod structure, creating a minimalist form that stands out in modern spaces.

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2. Design analysis: Vocabulary of the cylindrical body, tripod, and openwork window

Horizontal grooves on the cylindrical body <br data-start="1095" data-end="1098">Three lines are carved into the body by the potter's wheel, and the shading caused by the flow of the glaze spreads in a circular pattern. This is based on the stepped design seen in Kiseto "tiered rim bowls," and creates a **"pattern that marks the passage of time"** that is rare for an incense burner.

The symbolism of the tripod The three-point support represents the harmony between heaven, earth and man, and also has the function of efficiently dissipating the heat of the hearth. A slight crack in the glaze can be seen on the end of the legs, which gives the piece a vivid impression of the firing process.

Openwork Window and Handle <br data-start="1303" data-end="1306">The crescent-shaped window in the hemispherical lid squeezes the incense smoke from a single point, creating a visual "pillar of incense." The teardrop-shaped handle fits easily in the fingers, helping to regulate the rhythm of your movements.

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3. Spirituality - A metaphor of purification woven with "gold" and "smoke"

The soft gold of the yellow-gray glaze is a warm color that evokes feelings of "fruitfulness" and "sunshine" rather than wealth. When incense is burned, the smoke rises, taking on a glow, and intermingling with the lustrous surface of the vessel, creates a scene reminiscent of the countryside in autumn sunlight. This evokes the primordial sensation of "prayer to celebrate the harvest," and adds a fresh sense of life to the combination of incense, tea ceremony, and flowers.

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summary

The Yellow Gray Glazed Incense Burner is a masterpiece that combines the warmth of Momoyama Mino Kiseto ware with the ancient elegance of a tripod ware, reconstructed with Okada Masaru's unique minimalist design.

The gentle golden color of the wood ash glaze changes appearance moment by moment as it reflects the flames and incense smoke, the rhythm of the tripod gives the entire vessel a light, airy floating feel, and the openwork window in the hemispherical lid creates a line of movement and shadows for the fragrance.

It will naturally fit in not only tea rooms, but also living rooms of modern homes and display stands in museum shops, quietly illuminating the space as a sculpture of "incense" and "light . " — The golden color of ripeness envelopes the smoke of purification. This philosophy will intertwine spiritually with the user's daily life, spinning a lingering impression that transcends time.