Yakushiji Temple East Pagoda Foundation Clay Ash Glazed Tea Bowl by Rakusai Bisai

Width: 13.2cm Height: 7.9cm

Yakushiji Temple East Pagoda Foundation Clay Ash Glazed Tea Bowl - By Rakusai Onishi

1. Clay - Ancient soil that holds 1,300 years of prayer

This piece is made from old soil collected during the repair of the base of the East Pagoda of Yakushiji Temple, a famous pagoda since the Nara period. Rich in iron and silica, this soil recrystallizes over time, and the quartz grains sparkle like stardust even after firing. Onishi Rakusai skillfully blends the old soil with rough Shigaraki-style soil, imprinting the history and heavy texture of the ancient pagoda into the clay itself.

II. Ash glaze and kiln transformation - A moss-green landscape with blue-white drops running

The ash glaze that covers the outside is a homemade glaze made from a mixture of straw ash, feldspar, and wood ash.

The entire surface is olive green, reminiscent of moss.

The iron along the rim turns the cup a copper color.

Below the rim, milky white droplets run like lightning, creating a triple scene. The blue-white glaze drips are an accidental formation created by the flames, reminiscent of lightning shining through an overcast sky or a moon shining through the clouds on a tower at night.

3. Shape: A neat bowl shape that reflects the ancient pagoda

The bowl shape with a slightly outward-curving rim is reminiscent of the silhouette of the Yakushiji pagoda stretching into the sky. Five wheel marks are engraved on the body, forming horizontal lines reminiscent of the foundation stonework of ancient pagodas. The glaze is cut around the base, and the reddish purple of the fire flashes peek out, highlighting the contrast between the earthen surface and the glaze.

4. Easy to use and practical

The fine sand on the outer surface provides a comfortable friction to the fingers, and the luster of the ash glaze glass layer responds to the movement of the palm, showing complex reflections. A thick layer of ash glaze accumulates on the inside, and a pale milky white color quietly envelops the green of the matcha. The whisk hits it smoothly, and the bubbles are finely and evenly distributed, making it an excellent product in terms of practicality as well.

5. Cultural and symbolic significance

The East Pagoda of Yakushiji Temple has continued to protect the flame of Buddhism through repeated reconstruction and repair. This work, which uses the soil from that foundation, embodies the spirit of rebirth, "embracing the past and reviving anew." The green moss look of the ash glaze evokes the moss that covers the stone walls and the body of the pagoda over the years, inviting eternal prayer and tranquil moments to the tea ceremony.

Summary

Milky drops running through the moss-green ash glaze, the rim shining with red copper, and the 1,300-year-old prayer inherent in the clay - Onishi Rakusai's "Yakushiji East Pagoda Foundation Clay Ash Glazed Tea Bowl" is a gem that holds history and the coincidence of flames in the palm of your hand. When placed at a tea ceremony, guests will be able to think of Yamato's ancient pagodas through matcha and savor the story of a quiet rebirth.

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