備前焼とだるまさん―焼物散歩
Bizen ware is unglazed stoneware made in Okayama Prefecture around the
town of Bizen and has a long tradition from the late Kamakura Period until
now. The firing takes place at high temperatures with red pine wood (akamatsu
赤松) and gives the pieces a natural wild appearance, with red-glaze streaks,
charcoal-like patches or iridiscent blue-green patterns. Most pieces are
storage vessels, mortars, vases and ricewine bottles.
The local earth around the town of Bizen has special properties to conserve
food and keep it fresh, so in pre-refrigerator times huge jars were used
to keep tea leaves, soysauce or miso paste. Especially the transport of
perishable goods from the provinces to the Shoogun in Edo was done using
quite large Bizen vessels.
The production of pieces for the tea ceremony started around 1500. The
Azuchi-Momoyama period was the golden age for Bizen ware. Today there
are more than 200 potters working in the Bizen tradition, using the special
Bizen earth to produce also modern items like beer mugs and teacups for
everyday life use.
Since no glaze is used for Bizen, you have the pure beauty of Earth, Wood
and Flames. I sometimes help my potter friend Mondo Takagaki to fire the
huge kiln (noborigama 登り窯) for 10 days and I want to show you a picture
of the flames at about 1200 degrees centigrade. The camera is almost melting
away if I do not take special care! After 10 days of high tension it takes
another 10 days to wait for the kiln to cool down. Then comes the great
day - Opening the Kiln (kamadashi 窯だし). You never know what happened
inside during the firing and each piece is a unique work of art with unique
patterns. By the way, I live only about one hour away from the town of
Bizen.
たまに備前作家の高垣門土の窯たきの手伝いをしますが、そのときの写真です。1200℃の熱い達磨と炎をみてください。
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See the Daruma with his earrings in the intense heat above? You can have a look at the final product in my Gallery.
You find answers to all your questions about Bizen here.
備前焼の詳しいことはこちらです。
http://www.e-yakimono.net/guide/html/bizen.html
More About Bizen Pottery
Click on the vase to read more.
Bizen Pottery traces its long history back to Sueki Pottery (earthenware
fired with no glaze) in the Tumulus Period. From the Heian Period to the
early Kamakura Period, potters started to produce more practical and durable
wares for everyday use. This is believed to be the beginning of Bizen
Pottery.
Keep reading this HP, to learn about Sangiri, Goma, Botan-mochi, Hidasuki,
Ao-Bizen and Fuseyaki.
http://www.netforward.or.jp/bizenshi/bizen/miryoku/miryoku_e.htm
On this Museum HP you can have a look at old Bizen.
いろいろな古備前が博物館で見られます。
http://www.wisc.edu/arth/ah411/qep/shigaraki.html
Here is a store where you can have Bizen Pottery send to abroad. English
HP.
http://www.culture.co.jp/bizen/index-e.html
日本語.
http://www.culture.co.jp/bizen/index.html
Have a quick look at the HP of Bizen Town.
http://www.netforward.or.jp/bizenshi/toppage/toppage_e.htm
Learn more about local specialities of Okayama Prefecture on this HP in English.
Talking about Bizen ware, we should not forget the Shizutani
School.
The Shizutani School was built in 1670 and is cosidered to be one of the most impressive contributions made by Okayama's Edo Period ruler - Lord Ikeda.
Nestled in a peaceful vale northeast of Bizen City, the school was the first institution open to all regardless of social rank or class.
The school is enclosed by a superbly crafted stone wall and boasts reddish-brown Bizen-ware roof tiles and stark white walls, contrasting spledidly with the natural beauty of the surrounding area.
http://www.netforward.or.jp/bizenshi/sight/sizutani/detail/detail_e.htm
Another photo of the impressive rooftiles, which I took a while ago.
Now let us have a look at some Daruma statues of Bizen Pottery. Bizen
Daruma from around 1920. The frowning mouth and quizzical eyebrows suggest
incongruity, something for which the legendary Daruma was well known.
Very good condition. Dimensions: 10・high, 9・wide, 6・deep.
http://www.jcollector.com/stores/hosoge/items/52195/item52195jcollector.html
A Bizen Daruma from the Shoen Kiln.
http://www.trocadero.com/japanesepottery/items/24981/item24981store.html
A seated Daruma, only 3.7 cm high.
達磨の坐像、高さ3.7cm。
To buy a Daruma online, check this HP
「置物2の閲覧」にあります。
Now some Darumas from my collection.
This one is seated and looks a little unhappy. He is 17 cm high. His
flywhisk hangs over the left shoulder and is eyes are wide open.
達磨の坐像です。顔の表情がとても不幸せそうです。
Next we have a small standing Daruma, one of the more classical types.
He is 17 cm high. He is made from a form, so he has many identical brothers.
古典的な達磨立像の型ものです。
This rather voluminous one is seated, the hand on his knee. He is 17
cm high and his facial expression and the beard are wonderfully formed.
達磨坐像です。
Finally a Daruma with a hat hanging on his back. This is quite a uniqu
rendering. He is 27 cm high.
This is quite a unique rendering. .
このだるまの背中にわら帽子がぶらさがっています。とてもユニークな作品です。
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Just as I write this, a friend came along yesterday and brought me another little Bizen Daruma of only 3 cm hight, with a little hole in the back as an incense stick holder. We will have a lot more Bizen Darumas in stories about other subjects.
gokuraku@po.harenet.ne.jp
