Asian Antiques

In the 16th century, the Japanese tea master Sen Rikyu, who was involved with the construction of the Jurakudai, had a tile-maker named Chōjirō produce hand-moulded tea bowls for use in the wabi style of tea ceremony that was Rikyū’s ideal. The resulting tea bowls made by Chōjirō were initially referred to as “ima-yaki” (“contemporary ware”), and were also distinguished as Juraku-yaki, from the red clay that they employed, called Juraku clay. Hideyoshi presented Chōjirō with a seal bearing the Chinese character for Raku. Raku then became the name of the family that produced the wares. Both the name and the ceramic style have been passed down through the family (sometimes by adoption) to the present 15th generation (Kichizaemon). The name and the style of ware has become influential in both Japanese culture and literature.