Difference between revisions of "Tsuboya pottery"

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Following the formation of Tsuboya as a pottery district, a distinctive Tsuboya style emerged out of the interactions between potters from across the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|kingdom]] now brought together in this district. Up until the [[Meiji period]], Tsuboya remained a center of production of relatively simple ''arayachi'' (荒焼, "rough wares"), or unglazed ceramics. It was only in the [[Taisho period|Taishô period]] that, seeing the great popularity of [[Arita wares]] in the mainland Japanese market and seeking to expand their market share, the Tsuboya potters began producing ''jôyachi'' (上焼, "completed wares"), that is, glazed ceramics, with elaborate designs of fish, dragons, and the like. [[Kinjo Jiro|Kinjô Jirô]], [[Kobashigawa Eisho|Kobashigawa Eishô]], and [[Aragaki Eisaburo|Aragaki Eisaburô]], known as the "Three [Potters] of Tsuboya" (''Tsuboya no sannin otoko''), were particularly influential in the development of this style, prominently incorporating these motifs. Beginning in the 1960s-1970s, many potters moved elsewhere in the [[Okinawa prefecture|prefecture]], but Tsuboya remains prominent and vibrantly active.
 
Following the formation of Tsuboya as a pottery district, a distinctive Tsuboya style emerged out of the interactions between potters from across the [[Ryukyu Kingdom|kingdom]] now brought together in this district. Up until the [[Meiji period]], Tsuboya remained a center of production of relatively simple ''arayachi'' (荒焼, "rough wares"), or unglazed ceramics. It was only in the [[Taisho period|Taishô period]] that, seeing the great popularity of [[Arita wares]] in the mainland Japanese market and seeking to expand their market share, the Tsuboya potters began producing ''jôyachi'' (上焼, "completed wares"), that is, glazed ceramics, with elaborate designs of fish, dragons, and the like. [[Kinjo Jiro|Kinjô Jirô]], [[Kobashigawa Eisho|Kobashigawa Eishô]], and [[Aragaki Eisaburo|Aragaki Eisaburô]], known as the "Three [Potters] of Tsuboya" (''Tsuboya no sannin otoko''), were particularly influential in the development of this style, prominently incorporating these motifs. Beginning in the 1960s-1970s, many potters moved elsewhere in the [[Okinawa prefecture|prefecture]], but Tsuboya remains prominent and vibrantly active.
  
The [[Aragaki]] house and ''agari-nu-gama'' ("eastern kiln") pottery kilns in the district have been designated [[Important Cultural Properties]] at the national level, while the district's ''fee-nu-kama'' ("southern kiln"), the only still-active ''arayachi'' kiln in the district, is a prefectural important cultural property.
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The [[Aragaki house]] and ''agari-nu-gama'' ("eastern kiln") pottery kilns in the district have been designated [[Important Cultural Properties]] at the national level, while the district's ''fee-nu-kama'' ("southern kiln"), the only still-active ''arayachi'' kiln in the district, is a prefectural important cultural property.
  
 
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Revision as of 13:06, 28 February 2018

Shisa, ceramic dragons, and the like on display at a shop in Tsuboya
A ceramic vase with fish motifs by Kinjô Jirô, representative of Tsuboya style
  • Japanese: 壺屋焼 (Tsuboya yaki)

The Tsuboya neighborhood of Naha is the center of Ryukyuan pottery production. It was established as such in 1682, when the royal government ordered the kingdom's potters to relocate to the area, and it remains the center of Ryukyuan pottery today. Located within the Mawashi area of the city, the district is a major tourist site today, and includes a number of kilns and pottery shops organized around Yachimun-dôri ("pottery street"), as well as a Tsuboya Pottery Museum.

Following the formation of Tsuboya as a pottery district, a distinctive Tsuboya style emerged out of the interactions between potters from across the kingdom now brought together in this district. Up until the Meiji period, Tsuboya remained a center of production of relatively simple arayachi (荒焼, "rough wares"), or unglazed ceramics. It was only in the Taishô period that, seeing the great popularity of Arita wares in the mainland Japanese market and seeking to expand their market share, the Tsuboya potters began producing jôyachi (上焼, "completed wares"), that is, glazed ceramics, with elaborate designs of fish, dragons, and the like. Kinjô Jirô, Kobashigawa Eishô, and Aragaki Eisaburô, known as the "Three [Potters] of Tsuboya" (Tsuboya no sannin otoko), were particularly influential in the development of this style, prominently incorporating these motifs. Beginning in the 1960s-1970s, many potters moved elsewhere in the prefecture, but Tsuboya remains prominent and vibrantly active.

The Aragaki house and agari-nu-gama ("eastern kiln") pottery kilns in the district have been designated Important Cultural Properties at the national level, while the district's fee-nu-kama ("southern kiln"), the only still-active arayachi kiln in the district, is a prefectural important cultural property.

References

  • Gallery labels, Okinawa Prefectural Museum.; Gallery labels, "The Tsuboya-yaki region" and "Okinawan pottery," Gallery 4: Minzoku, National Museum of Japanese History.