Yakushiji Temple East Pagoda Foundation Clay Ash Glazed Sake Cup by Rakusai Onishi

Width: 6.7cm Height: 4.2cm

Ash-glazed sake cup made from clay from the base of the East Pagoda of Yakushiji Temple - By Onishi Rakusai

1. Clay: A solid base that reflects the foundation soil of the East Pagoda of Yakushiji Temple.

This piece is made with a blend of ancient soil collected from around the central stone of the East Pagoda of Yakushiji Temple, a famous pagoda built in the Nara period, during extensive repairs. Rich in iron and silica, this soil has developed minute mineral crystals over 1,300 years of weathering, and even after firing, the quartz grains sparkle like stardust. When you hold it in your hand, you can quietly feel the prayers of the land of Yamato and the ancient pagoda.

2. Ash glaze and kiln change - a mysterious scene where milky white and indigo ash blend together

The ash glaze, primarily composed of straw ash, was fired at a high temperature under reduction firing, resulting in a marbled appearance of milky white and indigo ash throughout the piece. The ash does not completely melt in the lower part of the body, leaving behind dark brown crystals. The flow of the glaze resembles fine brushstrokes, evoking the early mist that hangs over the white walls of an ancient pagoda. This creates a multi-layered landscape. When viewed from a different angle, the piece also radiates a glow reminiscent of a night view with moonlight filtering through pale clouds.

3. Shape: The neat volume of the cylindrical sake cup

The rim curves slightly outwards, and the body is a straight, cylindrical shape that fits comfortably in the hand. The wheel marks running down the center of the body catch the flow of the ash glaze, adding rhythm to the scenery. The base is held together by a thin, ring-shaped foot, making it light and easy to handle despite its apparent volume.

4. Functional beauty as a sake vessel - combining wabi and taste

The finely textured outer surface provides a pleasant friction to the fingertips, and the milky white glaze creates a cool feeling when cold sake is poured into it. When hot sake is poured into the cup, the clay body gradually retains heat, keeping the sake at a gentle temperature. The thinly ground rim feels light on the lips, leaving the sake with a refreshing finish.

5. The history of Yakushiji Temple - holding prayer and rebirth in the palm of your hand

Yakushiji Temple was founded at the request of Emperor Tenmu (around 680), moved to its current location around 710, and flourished as one of the Seven Great Temples of Nara. The East Pagoda, completed around 720 (the fourth year of the Yoro era), is the only surviving pagoda from the Nara period and is also known as "Frozen Music." Despite repeated wars and fires, it has been rebuilt and repaired, and after major repairs from the Heisei and Reiwa eras, it was completed in 2022. The foundation soil used for this work is precious soil that tells of its eternal history of prayer and regeneration.

With its ash glaze that blends milky white and indigo gray, stardust-like quartz grains hidden in the clay, and the thousand-year-old prayer that resides in the clay of the base of the East Pagoda of Yakushiji Temple, Onishi Rakusai's "Yakushiji East Pagoda Base Clay Ash Glazed Sake Cup" is an exquisite sake cup that simultaneously embraces wabi and sublimity in the palm of your hand. When you take a sip, the flames, the earth, and the sounds of the ancient pagoda quietly rise up, inviting you to a deep, lingering aftertaste.

This piece is made using 100% clay from the Yakushiji Temple grounds, with all impurities thoroughly removed, and is characterized by its clear beauty. The clay has aged over time and is homogeneous, and when fired it acquires a clear luster, and when fired it takes on a gentle color reminiscent of old roofing tiles. Its smooth texture and resistance to warping are also appealing. The story of the clay, which embodies 1,300 years of history, brings a sense of peace every time you hold it in your hands. This is a special piece that combines material, beauty, and spirituality.

A conversation with Rakusai Onishi