Japanese Pottery - Ethnic Japanese Pottery Growth And Development

The growth of ceramics in Japan practically began in the Momoyama era (1568 to 1615). The tradition of Japanese ceramics for commercial purposes is relatively recent although pottery has been made there since 5000 BC with coils, ornamented by rope patterns which were hand impressed and scorched in the open.

The major advancement of Japanese pottery took place between 1592 and 1597, when a large number of Korean potters were brought to Japan as incarcerated. At the same time the Tea Ceremony gained its popularity among the aristocratic and military class. The ritual was a highly stylish one associated with Zen Buddhism where tremendous importance was given to the forms and functions of pottery. The efforts of Sen-no Rikyu (1521 to 1591) led to greater innovation and improvement of Japanese pottery. Predisposed by the savor of the tea masters, Raku was launched during this era.

In the Edo period (1615 to 1868) porcelain clay was found at Arita. Imitating the Chinese and Korean potters the first Japanese porcelain was made. After the fall of the Ming Dynasty in China, Japan became the leading exporter of pottery in Europe, thus fostering the further refinement and innovation of Japanese pottery. Traditional pottery flourished and Kyoto became the heart of ceramic activities. The famous Japanese potter Ogata Kenzan (1663 to 1743) developed a wide range of pottery with tasteful designs. Progressively, Japanese pottery became highly decorated with a fetish for techniques.

The Tokugawa shogunate faced downfall in 1868 and Japan slowly got converted to modern Japan with the advent of industrialization. Being unable to compete with modern mass production, the traditional potters resorted to their old methods of masking potteries through folk inspiration. Various movements like Folk Art Movement were organized to bring the potters into the main stream, and a number of exhibitions were held to regain the traditional heritage.

Types of Japanese pottery-

1 Bizen Yaki , manufactured in Okayama.. it is a reddish brown ceramic also known as Inbe yaki.

2. Hagi Yaki, manufactured in Yamaguchi. It is a fragile ceramic as it is burnt at a low temperature.

3 .Karatsku Yaki, manufactured in Saga. It was started during the 16th century. It is the most widely manufactured pottery in western Japan.

4 .Mino Yaki, manufactured in Gifu.

5 .Onda-Yaki, manufactured in Kyushu. It is made without electricity by specific families and is passed by the member of a family only to their descendents.

6 .Otani Yaki, manufactured in Naruto and Tokushima. It is a large pottery.

7. Raku Yaki, manufactured in Kyoto.

8. Ryumonji Yaki, manufactured in Kagoshima. It was started 400 years ago by the potters of Korea.

9.Satsuma Yaki, manufactured in Aichi. It was also started 400 years ago.

10. Shigaraki Yaki, manufactured in Shiga.

11. Souma Yaki, manufactured in Fukushima. An image of horse is found in this type of pottery.

12. Tamba Yaki, manufactured in Hyogo.

13. Tokoname Yaki, manufactured in Aichi. They are mostly flower vases, tea cups and rice bowls.

14. Tobe Yaki, manufactured in Shikoku. They have blue cobalt artwork.

15. Yokkaichi - Banko Yaki, manufactured in Mie. They originated in the 19th century.

16. Arita yaki - it was manufactured in Saga and was introduced at the Edo Period by the Korean potters.