Fuji Incense Holder by Rakusai Bisai

Width: 5.5cm x 6.8cm Height: 5.0cm

Fuji incense container (Fuji-kogo) Made by Rakusai Onishi

--Hold the auspicious sign of "One Fuji" in the palm of your hand--

1. Work summary

This is a Fuji-shaped incense container created by Onishi Rakusai, a successor to Nara's Akahada ware . Although it is a small piece, about 5 cm in height and 7 cm in diameter, it precisely replicates the undulating mountain range from its base to its snowcap, and the body is divided into two parts to hold incense paste and aloeswood pieces.

2. Shape and glaze

The flow of the glaze stops along the unevenness of the mountainside like a snowfield, and the color that changes from white to pale yellow to brown depending on the viewing angle is reminiscent of the "changing appearance of Mount Fuji with each day and hour."

3. Techniques and the wonders of Akahada ware

The rugged mountainside is created using tatara molding and hand twisting .

After drying, the lid is separated and the joint is polished. The glaze is applied in three stages, from the snow cap to the mountainside to the foothills, and then reduced and fired at around 1240°C. The milky white glaze has a faint iridescent glow due to the addition of trace amounts of zinc. The iron red glaze, combined with the iron in the Akahada clay, takes on a brown color, and the alkali in the wood ash lowers the melting point and creates a sense of fluidity. This is how a unique landscape is created in which the warm and elegant earthiness of Akahada ware coexists with the roughness of Mount Fuji .

4. Cultural background of the Fuji motif

Number one auspicious sign : In Japan, the order of auspicious dreams is "First Fuji, second a hawk, third eggplant," and Fuji is associated with "safety and immortality" and is seen as a symbol of hopes for a safe year.

A symbol of peace throughout the country : During the Edo period, it was considered one of the three most famous places in Suruga Province and was associated with Tokugawa Ieyasu, and was a favorite design of samurai tea masters.

Relationship with the tea ceremony : The Fuji shape is often seen on the inside of Tenmoku tea bowls, braziers and kettles, and developed as a way to incorporate a clear, distant view into the tea room.

5. Arrangements at the tea ceremony

6. Mr. Onishi Rakusai's ceramics philosophy

Onishi Rakusai believes in "transforming the history and auspiciousness of Nara into modern tea pottery," and in addition to themes associated with Yamato such as deer, temple bells, and shibori, he actively incorporates Mount Fuji, a national auspicious symbol. In this incense container, the iron in the Akahada clay resembles the surface of melting snow, while the sparkle of the milky white glaze expresses the clear air of the "mountain of faith," condensing the spiritual landscape of Japan in the palm of your hand .

7. Summary

The "Fuji Incense Container" is a masterpiece that brings a poetic scene to the tea room, where you can hold the snow-capped mountain in your palm and, when you open the lid, the drifting incense smoke turns into a sea of ​​clouds that envelops the mountain peak. The delicate design unique to Onishi Rakusai and the warm glaze of the Akahada ware resonate together, and will add wishes of "safety and immortality" and a refreshing view to your daily training as well as celebratory occasions.

A conversation with Rakusai Onishi – High-end pottery specialty store [Amagi-do]