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

Width: 13.1cm Height: 7.3cm

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

This bowl was made by adding the foundation soil collected during the repair of the East Pagoda of Yakushiji Temple to the clay, applying an ash glaze mainly made of straw ash, and finishing it with reduction firing. The reddish brown color of the old soil peeks out from under the yellowish ash glaze, creating a calm yet profound scene. Below, we will explain the appeal of this piece in detail from five perspectives.

1. Clay: Foundation soil that holds the breath of 1,300 years

The soil of the foundation of the East Pagoda of Yakushiji Temple contains iron and silica, which are unique to the Nara Basin, and fine mineral crystals have formed over the years. Blending it with rough soil creates a moderate roughness in the clay, and even after firing, the quartz grains sparkle like stardust, evoking the history of the ancient pagoda.

2. Ash glaze and kiln changes: the contrast between pale yellow-green and reddish brown created by the flames

The ash glaze, made by dissolving a small amount of feldspar in straw and wood ash, develops a pale yellow-green color when fired at a high, reducing temperature. The rim is copper-colored from the iron, creating a "frame" effect that tightens the vessel. A small amount of ash glaze remains along the wheel marks on the body, creating horizontal lines that resemble ink stains. The glaze is cut at the sides of the foot, exposing the reddish-brown color of the foundation clay and adding a warm accent to the space.

3. Shape: A neat bowl shape reminiscent of a foundation stone

The slightly curved rim and slightly rounded body of the tubular shape evoke the silhouette of the Yakushiji pagoda stretching to the sky. The two wheel marks in the center of the body are reminiscent of the stonework of the ancient pagoda base and rhythmically catch the flow of the ash glaze.

4. Ease of use and practicality - functional beauty with a sense of wabi

The fine sand on the outer surface provides a comfortable friction to the fingertips, and the ash glaze on the inside has accumulated like a mirror, softly embracing the green of the matcha. The touch of the whisk is smooth, the bubbles are finely arranged, and the base is thin yet rigid, making it sturdy enough to withstand daily use.

5. Cultural Significance: A Tea Bowl Reflecting "Prayer" and "Rebirth"

The East Pagoda of Yakushiji Temple is known as "Frozen Music" and is a symbol that continues to protect the flame of the law even after repairs. The use of foundation soil for this work can be seen as an act of sealing eternal prayer into the tea bowl. The serene scenery of the ash glaze evokes a quiet place of prayer, and the moment of making matcha tea becomes a "ritual of rebirth" that connects the past and the present.

Summary

The copper rim floating on the pale yellow-green ash glaze, the quartz grains sparkling in the clay, and the foundation clay that holds the history of the East Pagoda of Yakushiji - Onishi Rakusai's "Yakushiji East Pagoda Foundation Clay Ash Glazed Tea Bowl" is a gem that holds in the palm of your hand the prayers of a thousand years and the coincidence of flames. When placed at a tea ceremony, guests can enjoy the tranquility of the ancient pagoda along with the aroma of matcha, and be enveloped in the afterglow of prayer that transcends time.

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