Page 365 - JAPAN THE SHAPING OFDAIMYO CULTURE 1185-1868

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sion bound to the ideal of precision, per- bowl is very wide, like a morning glory in integral part of the use of these wares and
fection, and refinement. It was almost in full bloom. On the sloping inside wall of valued as an artistic piece in itself. After a
reaction to this type of highly refined Chi- the bowl,.almost halfway down from the guest received a tenmoku bowl of tea, he
nese ware that later tea men began to cre- rim, are five oil drops, suggesting five would remove the bowl from the stand
ate native Japanese wares with more crests spaced at even intervals. This inten- and cradle it in his hands to drink. After
natural shapes. The almost pristine shape tional design indicates that the study of carefully observing the features of that
of this yuteki, or oil-spot, tenmoku bowl glazes during the Song Dynasty had pro- particular bowl, he would return the bowl
was highly valued by early connoisseurs gressed greatly. The thickness of the rim to its stand before relinquishing it to his
and probably was appreciated more for its indicates that this bowl would probably host.
decorative value than utilitarian purpose. have been a decorative piece for display When tea drinking was first intro-
The glaze is appropriately named, as it re- on a special shelf, as it would be difficult duced to Japan, very simply decorated
sembles a film of oil sparkling on the sur- to drink from this particular bowl. tenmoku bowls were used in Zen monas-
face of the water. Silver and blue spots Tenmoku bowls, when actually used at teries. In present-day Kyoto there is a spe-
glisten on the black background. tea gatherings or displayed as decorative cial tea gathering at Kenninji every April,
Tenmoku bowls are often compared to pieces, were presented on special tenmoku to commemorate Myóan Eisai (1141-1215),
the half-sphere formed by the base of a lo- stands (cats. 280, 281). Due to the very nar- the founder of the temple. During the
tus flower. Usually the sides of the bowl row and seemingly precarious base charac- time since the introduction of tea in the
extend gradually upward in a straight line teristic of tenmoku bowls, the stand was an twelfth century, a new Song style of pre-
from the foot. However, the mouth of this paring tea had been developed, which di-

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