Bizen ware Fire and clay still working magic in a 1,000-year tradition Bizen ware has its roots in a kind of earthenware called sueki which was made in this area in the Nara period in the 6th century. Bizen is the oldest of the six great ceramic kilns of Japan along with Seto, Tokoname, Tamba, Shigaraki, and Echizen. This unglazed ware using high-grade clay is fired slowly with pine to produce a subtle texture that is powerful in its restraint. This kind of wedging is called "chrysanthemum wedging" because of the shape it makes. Beauty in a natural state Even if they do not know much about it most people have at least heard of Bizen ware with its tradition of 1,000 years. I asked Mr Shozan Horie, director of the Okayama Prefectural Bizen Ware Society about its lasting appeal. Mr Horie is a veteran potter of over 50 years' experience who has won numerous awards for his work. He tells me that to make good Bizen ware you need good clay, skill in handling the clay and skill in firing it. The clay used in Bizen ware is called tatsuchi (paddy mud), which traditionally comes from the bottom of rice paddies. The tatsuchi found in Bizen has high iron content, a fine grain, and excellent plasticity. It is usually dug out in the winter and after being left exposed to the elements for one or two years is mixed with two other types of clay. The ware is not glazed but fired slowly with red pine. Highly traditional Bizen ware History and geography Though sueki earthenware was being produced in the region in the Kofun period, it was after court potters moved from Kyoto to Inbe in the 11th century that the real prototypes of Bizen ware began to be produced. The potters were lured by the high quality of the clay and the warm climate, which are both important conditions for pottery production. In the Kamakura period in the 13th century Bizen ware took on some of its more recognizable characteristics, and then in the Muromachi period in the 15th century it was discovered by tea ceremony masters who made it famous. The turning point was when Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the national unifier, and his tea ceremony peers espoused the aesthetic of wabi-sabi (rustic elegance). From that time Bizen tea wares started to boom. Convenient land and sea routes from Inbe to the rest of Japan were also conducive in spreading the fame of the ware. In the Edo period (1600-1868) the local domain chief put Bizen ware production under the domain's control, selected the best potters for special honors, and had them make sake bottles, water storage jars, mortars, and seed jars in large quantities. After that it was not long before Bizen ware became common also in daily life. Works awaiting firing Never two the same "The special flavor of a Bizen ware comes from the way the flame hits it in the kiln, and the way the ash falls. Depending on where a pot is placed in the kiln it can be subjected to very different conditions, so to make the most of the fire, potters decide carefully which pots to place where in the kiln. Because of the nature of the clay it is not possible to make Bizen ware with molds, so mass production is impossible. Every piece is handmade and in the case of Mr Horie, who employs a traditional climbing kiln, he only fires once or twice a year. The entire production of six months depends on a successful firing and there is no room for mistakes. The size of the traditional climbing kiln is overwhelming. Mr Horie says modestly that he has only ever been totally satisfied with one or two pieces he has made. There will be times when he is satisfied one day but crestfallen the next. "The more you pot the less satisfied you become," he observes. This depth is what makes Bizen so interesting. Mr Horie concurs that he never stops learning. I watched him demonstrate both wedging and throwing. The expression on his face changed completely as soon as he touched the clay. He gave me a small piece of Bizen ware as a gift but before handing it over he insisted on sand papering it vigorously so that it would not be rough on my lips. "We can't have you thinking that Bizen is rough," he said with all the seriousness of an artisan who really cares about his craft. Profile Shozan Horie Born 1923 in Katsuta Town, Okayama Prefecture. Entered a workshop in 1937. Built his own kiln in 1964 and went independent. Specializes in flower containers, tea wares and some decorative items. Has won numerous awards, including the Okayama Governor's Award for Excellence. He was the inaugural chairman of the Bizen Toshinkai ceramic association and is director of the Okayama Prefectural Bizen Ware Society.