Changes

In the early 17th century, [[Wakuta]] was the chief center of ceramics production on Okinawa, with Kogachi and Chibana developing shortly afterwards. In [[1682]], however, the court ordered many of the potters in the kingdom to relocate to the Tsuboya district, which was not until then a kiln site. This, then, constituted the creation of Tsuboya as a major center of pottery production, and sparked the emergence of a distinctive Tsuboya style, as potters from across the kingdom combined their techniques and styles. [[Kumejima]], [[Miyakojima]], and [[Ishigakijima]] remained major centers of pottery production as well, however, at this time.

In the early 17th century, [[Wakuta]] was the chief center of ceramics production on Okinawa, with Kogachi and Chibana developing shortly afterwards. In [[1682]], however, the court ordered many of the potters in the kingdom to relocate to the Tsuboya district, which was not until then a kiln site. This, then, constituted the creation of Tsuboya as a major center of pottery production, and sparked the emergence of a distinctive Tsuboya style, as potters from across the kingdom combined their techniques and styles. [[Kumejima]], [[Miyakojima]], and [[Ishigakijima]] remained major centers of pottery production as well, however, at this time.

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.

Up until the [[Meiji period]], Tsuboya remained a center of production of relatively simple ''arayachi'' (荒焼, "rough wares"), or unglazed ceramics. ''Jôyachi'' (上焼, "completed wares"), or glazed ceramics, were produced elsewhere in Ryûkyû, however, since at least the early 17th century, using techniques introduced by potters from [[Satsuma han|Satsuma]] (including Korean potters abducted by Satsuma forces during the [[Korean Invasions|Imjin War]] in the 1590s). Additional styles and techniques continued to be introduced from both Satsuma and China in later eras.<<ref>Gallery labels, Shuri castle.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/15253765357/sizes/k/]</ref> Still, 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'' with the elaborate designs of fish, dragons, and the like now so strongly associated with the district (and with Ryûkyû more broadly).

Tsuboya led Ryukyuan pottery through the 1960s, but in the 1970s, environmental and other concerns inspired many potters to relocate from Tsuboya - in the center of the city of Naha - to other areas, including [[Yomitan]] and [[Ogimi-son|Ôgimi-son]], where they built new kilns in the traditional manner. A number of kilns are still active in Tsuboya, however, while other Tsuboya kilns are today maintained as cultural/historical sites. The [[Aragaki house]] and its associated ''agari-nu-kama'' ("eastern kiln") have been designated a National [[Important Cultural Property]], while the ''fee-nu-kama'' ("southern kiln"), the only remaining ''arayachi'' (unglazed wares) kiln in the neighborhood, has been designated an Important Cultural Property by [[Okinawa prefecture|the prefecture]]. Both feature ''[[nobori gama]]'' climbing kilns; the ''agari-nu-kama'' is roughly 23 meters long by 4 meters wide, while the ''fee-nu-kama'' is roughly 20 meters long, and eight meters wide. The latter produced chiefly jugs for water and ''[[awamori]]'', and ceramic funerary containers, and is known for the relatively intact state of its stonework construction.<ref>Plaques at Sai On Square, Makishi, Naha.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/9543107587/]</ref>

Tsuboya led Ryukyuan pottery through the 1960s, but in the 1970s, environmental and other concerns inspired many potters to relocate from Tsuboya - in the center of the city of Naha - to other areas, including [[Yomitan]] and [[Ogimi-son|Ôgimi-son]], where they built new kilns in the traditional manner. A number of kilns are still active in Tsuboya, however, while other Tsuboya kilns are today maintained as cultural/historical sites. The [[Aragaki house]] and its associated ''agari-nu-kama'' ("eastern kiln") have been designated a National [[Important Cultural Property]], while the ''fee-nu-kama'' ("southern kiln"), the only remaining ''arayachi'' (unglazed wares) kiln in the neighborhood, has been designated an Important Cultural Property by [[Okinawa prefecture|the prefecture]]. Both feature ''[[nobori gama]]'' climbing kilns; the ''agari-nu-kama'' is roughly 23 meters long by 4 meters wide, while the ''fee-nu-kama'' is roughly 20 meters long, and eight meters wide. The latter produced chiefly jugs for water and ''[[awamori]]'', and ceramic funerary containers, and is known for the relatively intact state of its stonework construction.<ref>Plaques at Sai On Square, Makishi, Naha.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/9543107587/]</ref>