China & Japan ASIAN POTTERY

Part 1 CHINESE PORCELAIN

Chinese Pottery Chinese ceramics dates back as early as to the Paleolithic Era Pottery has been found in southern China that dates back 18,000 years ago China’s raw material resources provide it with the materials to produce their own clay White clay, otherwise known as Porcelain, is the most pure clay As clay gets darker and more red, it is considered to have more impurities in it The Chinese created a wide variety of ceramic wares Tiles Bricks Hand-built pottery Wheel-thrown pottery

Chinese Porcelain Porcelain is where we get the term “Fine China” from Porcelain is so pure that it is translucent when thrown thin on the pottery wheel Porcelain is made from the following natural materials: Kaolin Feldspar Quartz Petunse Dynasty: the succession of rulers from the same family Han Dynasty, 202 B.C.-220 A.D. Produced first true Porcelain Sui & Tang Dynasties, Low fire and high fire Porcelains Created a new lead-glaze Beginnings of Imperial Porcelain Song & Juan Dynasties, Main production time for Imperial Porcelain Ming Dynasty, New technologies allowed for more advanced ceramics techniques

Imperial Porcelain Imperial Porcelain was believed to have been started during the Tang Dynasty Only the very wealthy could afford to buy these wares, such as the Imperial Court members, thus the name Cobalt Oxide was mixed with water and painted onto the green ware pot as an under glaze. Artists would apply multiple layers to achieve a richer blue tone Imperial Porcelain was exported to Japan Tea masters would use it for their tea ceremonies

Porcelain Plates Radial Symmetry When a pattern or image repeats and rotates itself around a central axis Chinese potters usually decorated their wares using radial symmetry Most often a singular image was painted in the center of a plate or bowl and a radial symmetrical border was added to the edge

Part 2 JAPANESE TEA CEREMONIES

History of the Tea Ceremony Green tea originated in China Green tea plants were brought to Japan from China during the beginning of the Tang Dynasty Relations between China and Japan at this time were excellent Chinese Buddhist priest wrote a book on the proper method of preparing tea called “Cha Ching” Correct temperature of hot water Use of tea vessels Toward the end of the Tang Dynasty, their relationship deteriorated Japan had to cultivate their own traditions for tea now

History of the Tea Ceremony cont. During the Nara and Heian periods in Japan, tea was a rare commodity Rules were created for the consumption of tea In 1187 Myoan Eisai, a Japanese priest, traveled to China to study philosophy and religion He became the founder of Zen Buddhism He was the first one to cultivate tea for religious purposes Eisai was the first to suggest and teach the grinding of tea leaves before adding hot water. A Sung emperor named Hui Tsung, referred to a bamboo whisk used to whisk the tea after hot water was poured over it Eisai suggested that the drinking of tea had certain health benefits and cures loss of appetite Paralysis Beriberi boils sickness from tainted water.

Not just for drinking! There are many different types of tea ceremonies Seasonal Time of Day It is considered a fine art to master tea serving for a ceremony Takes up to 10 years to master! Table must be set a certain way A certain meal must be cooked Certain flowers must be arranged in a certain way Must dress in a kimono Tea ceremonies show rank in society! Higher rank = better “fine China”!

Religious Ceremony Many use the tea ceremony as a spiritual experience Zen Buddhism is a huge influence on the spirituality of the tea ceremony Harmony between nature and self Being calm and centered Tea ceremonies will often happen in special gardens

Part 3 JAPANESE SUMI-E

The Four Gentlemen The Four Gentlemen are the four plants that are needed to be mastered in order to become a master Sumi-e painter. To master each plant takes years of study under excellent tutelage. They are called the Four Gentlemen because of their style and grace. Each plant has certain brush strokes needed to complete it in the Sumi-e style. As you complete each plant you build on the brush strokes mastered, and learn new techniques for the next, more complicated plant. Japanese style of painting creates asymmetrical balance, thus creating empty space, and simplicity. The Four Gentlemen are bamboo, the wild orchid, the chrysanthemum, and the plum blossom branch.

The First Gentleman: Bamboo The Father of brush painting, representing simplicity of life and humble spirit. Bamboo represents Summer and is the most painted subject in East Asia. It represents strength in the face of adversity, and what the Japanese believe to be the virtues of the male - perfect balance, upright integrity, and tremendous flexibility. Bamboo is the “perfect gentleman” because at its center it is hollow, which suggests modesty, and it is always of service and used on a daily basis.

The Second Gentleman: Wild Orchid The Mother of brush painting, representing grace, beauty, and a happy spirit. The wild orchid represents Spring and what the Japanese believe to be feminine virtues - beauty and grace, yet fragile and gentle. The orchid invites you to celebrate life because it symbolizes reviving earth’s energy from the winter.

The Third Gentleman: Chrysanthemum The chrysanthemum is the imperial symbol of Japan’s royal family. The chrysanthemum represents Autumn because it is sturdy and it defies the brutality of the frost. It associates fragrant plants with being strong and unwavering with the change of the season.

The Last Gentleman: Plum Blossom The plum blossom is the symbol of hope and endurance. It represents winter because it perseveres with life and beauty within it. The plum blossoms are the first to bloom, signaling the end of winter. The beauty of the plum blossom lies in the contrast of the gnarled, rough trunk and the soft, tender blooms.