Page 368 - JAPAN THE SHAPING OFDAIMYO CULTURE 1185-1868

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often valued as an independent artistic 281 Teabowl stand the ruler began to visit his subordinates.
piece. This tenmoku stand has a floral pat- lacquer on wood Socializing became a means of strengthen-
tern encompassed by hexagonal, or diam. 15.5 (oVs) ing the fragile bond between ruler and vas-
tortoise-back-shaped, crest designs, both Ming sal. The Ashikaga shoguns regularly visited
inlaid with mother-of-pearl. This tech- Eisei Bunko, Tokyo the Hosokawa and other daimyo resi-
nique of applying iridescent seashell, dences. It was a heavy responsibility to
known as raden, was also used earlier, on, This tenmoku stand, used as a support for provide first-rate cultural entertainment.
for example, saddles of the Heian period. a tenmoku bowl was imported from China. Special gathering places and suitably
The use of very thin fragments of seashell Guri refers to the spiral pattern carved in important utensils, such as this tenmoku
is a specifically Chinese technique and is deep relief across the surface. The beauty stand, were required to accommodate
believed not to have been practiced in Ja- of this stand is due to the technique such illustrious guests. The combination
pan. Most Japanese raden technique uses a known as tsuikoku, where layers of dark of utensils selected for a tea gathering also
thicker fragment of shell. Upon closer in- brown, almost black, lacquer are alter- revealed whether careful consideration
spection of this particular tenmoku stand, nately applied with vermilion layers. The had been given to the affair. Not just any
the pieces of seashell resemble the peeled- carved spiral pattern accentuates the strat- tenmoku bowl could be paired with this
away cross-section of a tree's growth rings. ified layers of lacquer. stand. Warriors wished to be recognized
The effect is one of transparent fragments The provenance and use of this par- for their acumen, not only in the arts of
interlaced with delicate strands resembling ticular tenmoku stand are undocumented. war, but also in the more creative arena of
spidery veins of mica. JIK In daimyo tea culture the quality and wide art and culture. They were competing not
variety of utensils collected by daimyo re- only with other warriors, but with the old
vealed his artistic knowledge and refine- aristocrats who had lost political power to
ment. High quality utensils were essential the warrior class, yet were thought to still
for entertaining superiors. Before the me- outrank the warriors in pedigree and social
dieval period, a subordinate was expected refinement. JIK
to pay a visit to his superior's residence,
while later the custom was reversed and

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