Korean Tea Bowls from the Joseon Dynasty

Korean tea bowls are ceramic bowls made in Korea and used as tea bowls in Japan, and it was here that they became an especially admired form of ceramic ware. Originally mass produced in provincial Korean kilns for everyday use, they caught the attention of Japanese tea masters for their rustic simplicity. They embody the aesthetic principles of the wabi style of tea ceremony, and so became highly prized during the Tensho era (1573-92) when this was perfected. They continued to gain popularity and tea masters began to specially order their favorite style bowls.

Despite being adopted into Japanese culture and the fond appreciation the Korean tea bowls received here, it is undeniable that their unique beauty was created by the potters from the privately owned kilns during the Joseon dynasty. Therefore, in recent years scholars have begun working to define the place of Korean tea bowls within the history of the ceramics and international exchanges of the Joseon dynasty. The research has included aesthetic appreciation and the study of documentary evidence, as well as the study of material evidence from excavations of kiln sites and Japanese historic sites, and has made significant progress over the last 20 years.

This thematic display features Korean tea bowls from the Museum's collection, many of which were donated by Messrs. Matsunaga Yasuzaemon (1875-1971) and Hirota Matsushige (1897-1973). It includes many excellent works and a wide variety of pottery types such as Ido, Totoya, and Hori-Mishima.