The History And Inheritance Of Bizen Ware From Kamakura Period To Modern Times

Ceramic is not only an important reference to explore the history but also a reflection of the living situation of people from different countries. Since they are common tools applied in daily life by people of all over the world and will never disappear, unearthed ceramics can be used to track the history of the remains and reveal the situation of the area, or the country regarding its politics, economics and culture.Japanese ceramics can be divided into four categories: earthenware, pottery, stoneware and porcelain. The history starts with coil-made J?mon ware made in J?mon period, followed by thinner and smoother Yayoi style earthenware in Yayoi period, which is simplified and more useful than J?mon ware. Haji ware used as sacrificial utensils and clay figurines as funerary objects appeared later. During the time between mid-Kofun period and Heian period, basing on the new techniques from China and Korean peninsula, Sue ware was produced with the help of the potter's wheel and fired at high temperature in a kiln built on the hill side. After the appearance of Sue ware in early Heian period came the ash glazed ware, which was produced in a kiln located in the southeast of Seto city. The production system of ash glazed ware was restructured in the mid Heian period(in the late 10 th century). The firing method was changed into acid firing from reduce flame firing and thus the white pottery appeared. In the late Heian period(in the 12 th century), the kiln changed its focus to the production of tea bowls, usually referring to the unglazed shallow bowls or plates that are suitable for industrialized production. Seto kiln, which was good at making glazed ware, followed the tradition of the kiln located in the southeast of Seto city and became the center of pottery production. In this time, Seto kiln incorporated the Chinese making techniques and glazed the wares like sacrificial utensils, Buddhism ritual objects, domestic ware, etc. It thus encouraged the development of pottery making techniques in other places and then the“Six Old Kilns” appeared. Besides Seto, the other five kilns includes Shigaraki in Shigaraki area(Shigaraki ware), Tamba in Hy?go Prefecture, Bizen in Okayama prefecture, Tokoname in Aichi Prefecture and Echizen in Fukui Prefecture.Bizen, different from other old kilns regarding their sources, is largely influenced by the unique school of Sue ware in the eastern Okayama prefecture. The brown color of Bizen is consistent with that of Sue ware. Bizen wares refer to the ceramics produced in the village of Imbe in Okayama prefecture, the main products of which include jars, kettles and other domestic wares. With the popularity of tea ceremony, it also produces tea utensils. Bizen keeps developing in the village of Imbe for more than 800 years, which can be regarded as the most Japanese style ceramics with excellent flexibility to cater to the need of the developing society. Characterized by the absence of glaze, Bizen is of significant hardness and carries a unique reddish brown color. Due to the kiln effect, all the Bizens are of different styles, showing the perfect outcome of the meeting of clay and fire.This essay aims to outline the history of Bizen ware from Kamakura period to modern times and explore its inheritance. Basing on the previous studies on Bizen ware, this essay will also analyze the problems existed in the circulation process of Bizen and give advices regarding the workable solutions.