Some people say that Japanese tea ceremony developed for the sole purpose of appreciating Chinese ceramics. Later on, influence from Zen Buddhism and Chinese philosophy (Daoism and Confucian philosophies) were layered onto what was at first pure unabashed connoisseurship. I think the ultimate bowls are the hare's fur bowls. My teacher did not own any. There is a special procedure to using them for tea. Nice article here from Apollo.
The bowl of my imagination was rustic--not unlike the famous Ida Chawan--which is a national treasure in Japan. It is Korean--not Chinese. But I love it and was imagining my bowl like that. Or even not unlike this but with steeper walls...
Ido Chawan, Kizaemon (National Treasure, Japan)
Li Dynasty, Korea (16th century); Koho-An, Kyoto, diameter at mouth 15.5 cm
Considered to be the finest teabowl in the world, the Kizaemon was made in Korea as a humble rice bowl in the 16th century and discovered by Japanese tea masters in the early 17th century-- where it was held up as a priceless heirloom artifact for tea ceremony.
It is extremely roughly potted and is known for both its high foot (which adds to the misshapen appearance) and deep marks left by the potter’s wheel. It was covered by a thick ash color glaze which has a very pleasing crackle, as well as unglazed areas where the dark and rough clay was showing. Kizaemon was the name of the first Japanese art collector who owned the bowl. It then passed hands several times before ending up in the collection of Matsudaira Fumai of Matsue who paid a small fortune for the bowl in 1775. He was the greatest art collector of the time and the Kizaemon was said to be his favorite piece of all and one which he kept with him constantly. It was designated a National Treasure of Japan in the 20th century—valued for its deeply pleasing loquat color and above all for its harmony which is achieved from its disharmonious parts.
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