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Tea Bowls: The Essence of Chanoyu

  • Image of "Tenmoku Tea Bowl with an "Ash-Dusted" Glaze, Yuan–Ming dynasty, 14th–15th century (Gift of Mr. Hirota Matsushige)"

    Tenmoku Tea Bowl with an "Ash-Dusted" Glaze, Yuan–Ming dynasty, 14th–15th century (Gift of Mr. Hirota Matsushige)

    Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 4
    January 2, 2024 (Tue) - March 10, 2024 (Sun)

    The custom of drinking powdered green tea (matcha) was brought to Japan from Song-dynasty China (960–1279). As this custom became prevalent among Buddhist monks, elite samurai, and townspeople, it evolved into an elegant art form known as chanoyu, or the tea ceremony. Today chanoyu is a central part of traditional Japanese culture.

    This exhibition focuses on tea bowls, the most important utensils of chanoyu. It presents a variety of bowls and other vessels from China, Korea, and Southeast Asia that were repurposed for chanoyu when this living art form reached its peak between the mid-16th and the early 17th centuries. The exhibition also introduces distinctive tea bowls crafted in Japan specifically for chanoyu.

    List of Exhibits

Major works in this exhibition

* Works listed below are in the TNM Collection unless otherwise indicated.

Buddhist Verse, By Beijian Jujian, China Southern Song dynasty, 1229 (Important Cultural Property, On exhibit through February 4)

Tea Bowl, Named "Toki Ido", Joseon dynasty, 16th century (Gift of Mr. Hirota Matsushige)

Bowl with Lotus Petals, Longquan ware, China, Southern Song–Yuan dynasty, 13th–14th century (Gift of Mr. Hirota Matsushige)

Tea Bowl, Named “Hashihime (Bridge Maiden)”, Mino ware, Shino type, Azuchi-Momoyama–Edo period, 16th–17th century (Gift of Mr. Matsunaga Yasuzaemon)

Tea Bowl, Named “Amadera (Nunnery),” Studio of Chōjirō; Black Raku style, previously owned by Ōgi Rodō, Azuchi-Momoyama period, 16th century (Gift of Mr. Matsunaga Yasuzaemon)

Exhibitions