Born from the Japanese climate,
“Rokuko Kiln” is the origin of ceramics that are rooted in Japanese life.
``Japan's Six Ancient Kilns'' refers to the six representative production areas (Echizen, Seto, Tokoname, Shigaraki, Tanba, and Bizen) of the ancient ceramic kilns where production has continued from the Middle Ages to the present day. Generic term. It was named around 1948 by Fujio Koyama, an ancient ceramics researcher and potter, and was recognized as a Japan Heritage Site in the spring of 2017. Taking this opportunity, the six cities and towns that are producing areas (Echizen ware: Echizen Town, Fukui Prefecture, Seto ware: Seto City, Aichi Prefecture, Tokoname ware: Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture, Shigaraki ware: Koka City, Shiga Prefecture, Tamba ware: Tamba Sasayama City, Hyogo Prefecture, Bizen ware: Okayama Prefecture) In Bizen City), the Six Ancient Kilns Japan Heritage Utilization Council was established. By reexamining the techniques and culture that have been cultivated in each production area for approximately 2018 years, we are attempting to delve anew into the charm of the ``Six Ancient Kilns'' from a bird's-eye perspective. ``Traveling, Thousand Years, Six Ancient Kilns'', which started in the spring of XNUMX, is an initiative to reconsider the fundamental activities of humans, the relationship between humans and nature, and the roots of manufacturing through ceramics.
Six ancient kilns distributed in Japan. It is known that there were over 80 pottery production areas during the Middle Ages.
Why “Rokuko Kiln” now? The person who answered that question was Koji Takahashi, creative director of the Six Ancient Kilns Japan Heritage Utilization Council. After working as an in-house designer for MUJI, mainly in charge of planning and designing household goods, in 2015 I moved to Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture, one of the "Six Ancient Kilns," where I was introduced to the world of ceramics and its people. I am involved in activities that connect people's lives.
``Japan is a ``pottery powerhouse'' with an astonishing number of pottery production areas in a small country.This is extremely rare and almost unique even in the world.``Rokuko Kiln'' A representative example of Japan's pottery production area.Not only does it produce industrial pottery, but it also kneads local soil and water, shapes it to suit its purpose, dries it in the sun and wind, and fires it in a kiln. The primordial process of making things by burning fire still continues today.In this era of abundance of things, ``Roku Kogama'' offers hints for rethinking the way we Japanese people live and deal with nature. He is attracting attention as someone who can help.”
Seto's clay quarry. Vast areas of land are used as mining sites. This clay is also used in other production areas such as Mino.
Why has Japanese ceramics developed so much and undergone so many different evolutions? A big factor behind this is that there is a climate suitable for ceramics. In particular, the village of the Rokuko kiln is blessed with clay soil, which is the material for pottery, and is also a hilly area where it is easy to build a kiln, is blessed with forests for collecting firewood, and has close access to rivers and the sea. It has prospered as a major pottery production area due to the fact that it was able to transport goods through the city and was close to cities, which are major consumption areas. If we go back in history, we can experience Sueki, which was introduced from the Korean Peninsula during the Kofun period, and glazed pottery, which was introduced from mainland China during the Asuka and Nara periods. It was the ``Rokuko kiln'' that began to be mass-produced and industrialized as a tool for the common people.
Tokoname Koie Akira/Tokoname Mountain Earthenware Pot Koie decided to become a writer after participating in an excavation of a medieval old kiln in his hometown, Tokoname.
Ceramics born from the uniqueness of the land
Evolved through Japan's unique food culture and aesthetic sense
Additionally, the ``Rokuko kilns'' are deeply related to ``cha pottery'' (pottery used in tea ceremonies), which plays an important role in the history of pottery. “The pottery that was imported from China stands out in imitations of metal vessels, and they should be perfectly symmetrical. However, at Rokko Kiln, the distortions, fluctuations, and traces of fallen ash were recognized as individuality and flavor, and a new value was found in them. This has come to fruition as a ``scenery'' in tea pottery.In other words, ``Rokukogama'' can be said to be a turning point in the Japanese aesthetic sense in the world of pottery.'' The ``Rokuko Kiln'' is home to the uncontrived beauty of the clay itself and a highly pure spirituality.
Bizen ``tane pot'' from the Momoyama period (stored at Ichiyo Kiln). A jar used to store agricultural seeds, and used as a water pointer in tea ceremonies. Photography Shinpei Kato
``Japanese people eat by lifting the utensils with their hands, right?If it's a soup bowl, they put their mouths directly on it.This is a practice that is now lost in the Korean Peninsula and mainland China, where Japanese pottery originated.'' I think it's a style that is very close to the body, and Japanese people think of it as something personal, such as a rice bowl, teacup, or even a mug. This is proof of this.The use of different vessels depending on the season and the cuisine, and the way the vessels become a part of the production, is something that is rare in the world. I think it is.”
Seto Honjo Kiln/(From the back) Sansai soup bowl, straw hand bowl, yellow Seto stone plate. Seto Hongyogama is a pottery that has been operating in Seto for about 300 years. We produce and sell Seto ware based on the philosophy of folk crafts. Photography Shinpei Kato
“Travelling through the millennia of six ancient kilns, landscapes where people, soil and people, water and people met.”
Seto Seto City Art Museum Special Exhibition Commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the Enforcement of Seto City System
“Tracing Japan’s six ancient kilns – The history of each of Japan’s six ancient kilns”
Date: August 2019rd (Sat) - September 29th (Sun), XNUMX
Venue: Seto City Museum of Art, 1st floor permanent exhibition room/special exhibition room 1
Exhibition Approximately 50 works from the Seto kiln, Tokoname kiln, Echizen kiln, Shigaraki kiln, Tamba kiln, and Bizen kiln from the medieval period to modern times.
Admission fee: Adults: 500 yen (groups of 20 or more people: 400 yen), high school and university students: 300 yen (groups of 20 or more people: 240 yen)
Tokoname Tokoname Ceramics Forest Ceramics Research Institute Special Exhibition
“Tracing Japan’s six ancient kilns – the relationship between Tokoname kiln and other kilns”
Date: August 2019rd (Sat) - September 23rd, XNUMX (Monday/holiday)
Venue: Tokoname Tonomori Ceramics Research Institute
Exhibition: Approximately 40 pieces of six ancient kilns, medieval and early modern kilns (Atsumi kiln, Nakatsugawa kiln, Someya ware) and works by contemporary artists (Tokoname ware and Someya ware)
Admission free
https://sixancientkilns.jp/
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