Sen No Rikyu. Taian Tearoom (Momoyama Period, 1582 CE). Myokian Temple, Kyoto, Japan.

- Sen No Rikyu (1522 - 1591) was the most famous of Japanese tea masters.

- He felt that the tea ceremony should be an intimate gathering of only a few people.

- He would prepare the tea in front of his guests while discussing Zen philosophy or the scrolls hanging on the wall.

Momoyama Period

Chojiro. Teabowls (late 16th Century CE). Raku ceramic ware. Japan.

Hon'ami Kōetsu. Teabowl (Momoyama Period, c. 1600 CE). Raku ceramic ware. Japan.

Sonyu. Teabowl (Edo Period, c. 1710 CE). Raku ceramic ware. Japan.

Teabowl (Edo Period, c. 1750 CE). Raku ceramic ware. Japan.

1. Wedge the clay with both hands on a piece of canvas.

2. Shape the clay into a ball, roughly the size of an orange.

3. Using your fingers create a “pinch pot” by pinching the clay together so that the walls of the teabowl are approximately the same thickness. Slowly work your way around the teabowl until it is finished. 1/4” of thickness is ideal.

4. To create a foot (base) for your teabowl, you will use the rolling pin to roll out a flat slab of clay.

5. When your clay slab is flat and approximately 1/4” thick, you will use a cutting tool to cut out a rectangle from the slab. The rectangle should be approximately 3” long and 1/4” wide.

6. Pick up the rectangle and use the cutting tool to “crosshatch” both ends of the rectangle. Then, “crosshatch” one of the long sides of the rectangle.

7. Using the cutting tool, crosshatch the shape of a circle on the bottom of your teabowl.

8. Apply slip to all crosshatched areas and stick these pieces together (the rectangle will be curved into the shape of a circle then stuck onto the bottom of the teabowl).

9. Use the cutting tool to carve your name or initials into the bottom of your teabowl.

10. Set aside to dry overnight.

Raku Greenware Process - Monday

Your teabowl has been fired from greenware (unfired clay) to bisqueware (fired clay). Today we will apply the glaze, then use the raku fire technique to turn your bowl into raku pottery.

Raku Glazeware Process - Tuesday

1. Shake the jar of glaze very well before opening. Be sure the lid is on tight before you shake the jar!

2. Use a paint brush to “paint” on any of the glazes. You must wait for the first glaze layer to dry before you can add a second coat (only takes 1-2 minutes for a glaze coat to dry).

3. You may choose to use only one color of glaze or mix and match them. The more coats of glaze you add to your teabowl, the more likely you are to achieve the “crackle” effect in your glazeware. I recommend adding 3 - 4 coats if you want a crackle effect.

* If you use the “White Crackle” glaze, you are more likely to get the crackle effect. *

Sen No Rikyu. Taian Tearoom (Momoyama Period, 1582 CE). Myokian Temple, Kyoto, Japan.

Sen No Rikyu. Taian Tearoom (Momoyama Period, 1582 CE). Myokian Temple, Kyoto, Japan.

Tea Ceremony - Wednesday

1. Chasen (whisk)

2. Chashaku (spoon)

3. Green tea powder (matcha)

4. Chawan (raku fired teabowl)

There are four (4) key items to the tea ceremony:

The Chasen is a whisk made from bamboo that breaks apart any clumps in the matcha powder and mixes the powder with the hot water.

Tea Ceremony - Wednesday

The Chashaku is a spoon-like utensil that is used to scoop the matcha powder from the mixing bowl into the Chawan (raku fired teabowl).

Tea Ceremony - Wednesday

The Chawan is made from stoneware clay and fired using the raku process.

The Chawan is meant to be a functional work of art. Bowls that are hand-man are more valued than those which are not.

Tea Ceremony - Wednesday

The green tea powder is called “matcha.” Whole green tea leaves are ground into a fine powder, then scooped into the Chawan using the Chashaku. After hot water (150° - 185°F) is poured into the Chawan, the Chasen is used to mix the matcha powder with the water.

After the matcha has been mixed thoroughly (no clumps) the tea is ready to drink.

Tea Ceremony - Wednesday