Page 73 - Japanese marks and seals on pottery, paper and other objects.

MARKS AND SEALS ON POTTERY. 35

were pleased, by presenting to them seals bearing some- de-
vice with which to mark their productions. The most notable
incident of this nature upon record is the presentation by
Taico Sama of a gold seal bearing the character Rakn, signi-
fying Enjoyment, to Chojiro, the son of a Corean potter

named Ameya, who settled in Kioto in 1550 a.d., and origi-
nated the manufacture of the ware afterwards known as rakn,
which, although rude in form and devoid of decoration, has
always been held in the highest esteem by the Chajin,
especially during the period when the ceremony of tea drink-
ing, known as Chanoyu, flourished. For eleven generations
the Chojiro family has pursued the manufacture of this ware,
and marked it with the raku seal, but, as the second Chojiro

lost the seal presented by Taico Sama, each succeeding
generation has used a stamp of its own, differing in drawing
and size no doubt, but all bearing the same word. The
names of the eleven generations are as follows:— Chojiro;
i,
Chojiro; 3, Nonko Ichiniu or Sahei Soniu
2, ; 4, ; 5, ; 6,
Saniu 7, Choniu 8, Tokoniu Riyoniu 10, Tanniu ii,
; ; ; g, ; ;
Kichizayemon, who is now living.
The examples of the seal here given appear to com-
prise those of eight out of the eleven generations, and include
all that occur in the list of marks, and probably all that
have reached Europe.

2ND CHOJIRO, OK NONKO. CHONIU. Not identijied. Not identijled^

Not identijied. RIYONIU. TANNIU. KICHIZAYEMON.
THE SEAL RAKU.
Enjoyment, Used by the Chojiro family.