Description of Exhibition

In the practice of chanoyu (sometimes called the tea ceremony), the tea bowl is more than simply a vessel for drinking tea. It also serves as an important object of aesthetic appreciation during a tea gathering. A tea bowl is something that can be held in the hands and admired, providing a point of connection between host (teishu) and guests (kyaku). Among the many bowls that have been used to serve tea in the context of chanoyu, those revered as “famous bowls” (meiwan) have an especially rich history. These bowls are marked by their unique style and elegance, and by the countless hands that have held, cherished, and prized them over decades and centuries.
This exhibition highlights a number of famous bowls of distinguished provenance, categorized either as Chinese karamono tea bowls, Korean kōrai tea bowls, or Japanese wamono tea bowls. By highlighting the diverse types, unique characteristics, origins, and stories associated with these exemplary ceramics, we hope to help visitors learn about and reflect on the role of the tea bowl in Japan’s culture of tea.

Taihi Tenmoku Teabowl
with Phoenix Design
Kyoto National Museum