Six gourd tea bowl Rakusai Ozai

Width: 12.5cm Height: 7.4cm

This work by Onishi Rakusai features six gourds arranged in one bowl, and is an auspicious tea bowl that combines the words "no illness" and "six gourds = no illness." On a pale bluish glaze, the gourds are elegantly lined up in a row, painted with gold and color, and speak of both auspiciousness and elegance. Below, we will explain its appeal from five different perspectives.

1. Shape and glaze

Stable body shape<br data-start="229" data-end="232">The slightly thick, bulging body gently rises from the inside to the rim, creating ideal proportions for the matcha to gently undulate.

The tranquility of the pale blue glaze <br data-start="319" data-end="322">The body is enveloped in a transparent glaze that contains a slight hint of blue-gray. Fine crazes appear during firing, creating a tranquil scene reminiscent of thin ice in early spring. The green of the matcha is reflected in the glaze, making the pale blue stand out even more, allowing you to enjoy the feeling that the vessel and the tea are one.

2. Design - The World of Rokuhyo Ikokusai

Gourds and Braided Cord <br data-start="468" data-end="471">The six gourds are decorated with pine and bamboo designs painted with thick paint on a gold background, and the scarlet diamond pattern braided cord is entwined with them, creating a sense of continuity and movement. Since ancient times, gourds have been a symbol of prosperity and wealth as they bear many seeds, and when all six are gathered together, it is the ultimate auspicious image, as the wordplay on the word means "no illness or disaster."

The joy of changing pictures <br data-start="610" data-end="613">As the bowl is turned, three types of gourds - gold, silver and plain - appear alternately and their shine changes depending on how the light hits them. As the host turns the bowl around, he can create space for a conversation with his guests about "where the sixth gourd is hiding."

3. Techniques - The brilliance and sophistication of Kyoto ware

Kinrande
The shine seen in gold leaf is achieved by "kinrande", a technique in which overglaze paint containing gold is baked at a low temperature (approximately 800°C). The luster blends into the glaze surface, making it durable and resistant to peeling.

Layers of colored paint <br data-start="847" data-end="850">The pine tree inside the gourd is painted in two layers of verdigris and ochre to emphasize its three-dimensional appearance. Fine lines are delicately drawn with iron paint, minimizing fluctuations in the brushstrokes and maintaining a neat outline.

Combination of crazing <br data-start="934" data-end="937">The crazing running underneath the painting catches the sparkle of the gold paint, and depending on the light the mesh pattern appears faintly, creating a contrast of "stillness and movement."

4. Functional beauty at the tea ceremony

The white and green of the inside of the pot echo each other. The inside is unified with a plain pale blue glaze, and the green of the matcha stands out like a mirror. The tea whisk hits it smoothly, and the foam is fine and even.

Storytelling that bestows good fortune <br data-start="1118" data-end="1121">The six gourds design has a special significance at auspicious tea ceremonies such as the first tea ceremony of the year, birthdays, and celebrations of recovery. As the host turns the teacup, he can deepen conversation with his guests by telling an anecdote, such as "The gourd was Hideyoshi's horse brand, and was also a tool used by Sen no Rikyu for his water bottle."

5. Cultural background and modernity

Gourds have been widely used as a motif for tea ceremony utensils and Noh costumes since the Azuchi-Momoyama period, but this piece also depicts pine, bamboo, and plum blossoms inside the gourd, creating an auspicious ensemble. While keeping in mind the idiom of traditional "kinrande Kyoyaki," Onishi Rakusai has adopted a modern color tone of pale blue glaze, elevating it to a contemporary tea bowl that combines lightness and elegance.

The dynamic movement of the six gourds lined up, the tranquil glow of the gold and pale blue glazes - this is a rare tea bowl that simultaneously celebrates "blessing" and "tranquility." When placed at a tea ceremony, guests will sense the prayer for health and prosperity contained in the bowl, and will enjoy a blissful moment savoring a cup of matcha tea while narrating this happy story.

A conversation with Rakusai Onishi