Chaki
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2008-05-10T16:12:15Z
Tksb
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/* Usu-chaki / natsume */ clarified about the kind of tea they hold
[[Image:natsume.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Example of a [[lacquerware]] ''natsume''.]]
'''''Chaki''''' (茶器) is a term that encompasses all the styles of [[tea caddy]] used in [[Japanese tea ceremony]]. ''Chaki'' are the vessels into which [[matcha|tea]] is placed before taking it into the [[tea room]], and from which the tea is scooped into the [[tea bowl]] in preparation for serving. ''Chaki'' are not storage vessels, however; tea is not normally kept inside them.
''Chaki'' are traditionally made of [[wood]], [[bamboo]], or [[ceramic]], and are classified both by material and shape, as well as by the type of tea (thin or thick) they are designed to hold.
==Styles and classification==
In general, ''chaki'' can be divided into two broad categories: wood and ceramic. Ceramic and [[porcelain]] ''chaki'' are called '''''cha-ire''''' (茶入, "something into which tea is placed") or '''''koi-chaki''''' ("''chaki'' for thick tea"), while wood and bamboo ''chaki'' are known as '''''usu-chaki''''' (薄茶器, "''chaki'' for thin tea") or '''''natsume''''' (棗, "[[jujube]]", referring to the container's shape).
Both ''cha-ire'' and ''natsume'' are further classified according to country of origin, materials and shape, and in some cases by potter or, in special cases, a name given to the object.
Very important about pottery of tea ceremony is Cha-ire (tea leave container) and Cha-wan(large tea cup).
While pottery made Cha-ire is usually for koi-cha (flavored powder green tea), [[urushi]] coated Natsume is for usu-cha (weak powder green tea).
[[Lacquerware]] Natsume (look a like date) was first coated by a craftsman called Haneda Goro of Ashikaga period.
==Usu-chaki / natsume==
[[Image:Black natsume.jpg|thumb|300px|right|A black lacquered ''natsume'' and bamboo tea scoop laid out in preparation for a traditional tea ceremony.]]
Broadly speaking, an ''usu-chaki'' is a wooden vessel with a lid, designed to hold powdered tea for making ''usucha'' (thin tea). Traditionally, ''usu-chaki'' are hand-carved from wood or bamboo, which may be [[lacquerware|lacquer]]ed or left untreated. They may also feature designs painted, applied, or carved into the vessel. Today, cheaper, mass-produced [[plastic]] ''usu-chaki'' are also available.
The name "''natsume''" comes from the [[Jujube|natsume or jujube]] fruit, which some ''usu-chaki'' are said to resemble. Strictly speaking, the word ''natsume'' should only be used to refer to vessels which have the broad, flat top and narrow base that give them this name, but in practice any ''usu-chaki'' may be referred to as a ''natsume''.
Since ''natsume'' are used for thin tea, they are the first ''chaki'' that a tea student learns to use.
===History of natsume===
''Natsume'' may have evolved from small flower vases. Their use became popularized in the [[Edo era]], due to the influence of [[Sen no Rikyu]].
''Natsume'' were preceded by other types of wooden tea containers,
===Types of natsume===
''Natsume'' can be divided into three main types: large (大棗 ''ō-natsume''), medium (中棗 ''chū-natsume'') and small (小棗 ''ko-natsume''). There is tremendous variation among the different sizes, however.
A typical ''natsume'' is of the medium or large type, and is lacquered in black or red.
In addition, there is flat type (平棗) of natsume of Sen-no-Rikyu favor. The flat lid is almost twice diameter of its height.
==Cha-ire==
::<center>''The most important pottery of the Cha-no-yu is first the Cha-ire and then the Cha-wan. It is said that among the military class the most precious possessions were first Tea-caddies, second writings and third swords. For this was the order in which they were presented by the Shogun to one he desired to honour.
::::-- A.L. Sadler.<ref name=Sadler1>Sadler, A.L. ''Cha-No-Yu: The Japanese Tea Ceremony. Tokyo: Tuttle, 1962, 66.</ref> </center>
A ''cha-ire'' is a ceramic vessel with a small lid, designed to hold thick tea. The lid of a ''cha-ire'' is traditionally made from [[ivory|elephant ivory]] with a [[gold leaf]]ed underside, though today lids are usually created from other materials made to resemble ivory.
===History of cha-ire===
According to Sadler, ''cha-ire'' were originally used in China in the [[Song Dynasty|Song period]] as bottles for oil or medicine, and were imported into Japan for use as tea caddies up to the end of the [[Ashikaga shogunate|Ashikaga]] or start of the [[Tokugawa era]].<ref name=Sadler1>Sadler, A.L. ''Cha-No-Yu: The Japanese Tea Ceremony. Tokyo: Tuttle, 1962, 66.</ref>
===Types of cha-ire===
''Cha-ire'' can be divided into two broad types: ''karamono'' and ''wamono'' (sometimes ''kokuyakimono''). ''Karamono'' are ''cha-ire'' that originated in or are made to resemble those created in [[China]], while ''wamono'' are those that originated in [[Japan]]. These can be further subdivided by kiln or potter as well as shape.
====Karamono====
''Karamono cha-ire'' are classified by shape:
* '''Nasu''' (茄子): The "[[eggplant]]" ''cha-ire'' is a medium-sized vessel named for its shape, which resembles that of an aubergine. Other ''nasu'' types (whose shapes vary slightly) include the ''bunrin'' and the ''shifukura''.
* '''Katatsuki''' (肩衝): The "shoulder" ''cha-ire'', the most common type, is a tall, narrow vessel named for its pronounced "shoulders" at the vessel's top. Any tall, narrow ''cha-ire'' may be called a ''katatsuki''.
* '''Marutsubo'''
* '''Tai kai''' (大海): "Big [[ocean]]" or "wide mouth" ''cha-ire'' have a wide opening and are usually shorter than they are wide. A smaller sub-type of this ''cha-ire'' is known as ''nai kai''.
* '''Tsurukubi'''
* '''Shirifukure'''
====Wamono====
''Wamono cha-ire'' are classified by the names of potters and kilns:
=====Provincial ware=====
* Karatsu
* Satsuma
* Shigaraki
* Takatori
* Omuro
* Tanba
* Bizen
=====Kilns=====
* Maemon
* Rikyu
* Genjuro
* Oribe
* Shidoro
* Shimbei
* Tojiro I, II, III, IV
==References==
<references/>
* Michiko, Suganuma. [http://lacquer.tafejapan.com "Lacquer teaware"].
==See also==
* [[List of Japanese tea ceremony utensils]]
==External links==
* [http://www6.ocn.ne.jp/~hidjun/natsume.jpg Image of an elaborate black lacquer natsume with gold sakura blossom motif]
* [http://takochu.com/watabe/natsume/natsume_other.htm Image of four carved natsume (Japanese)]
[[Category:Japanese tea ceremony]]
[[Category:Japanese pottery]]
[[Category:Teaware]]
[[eo:Chaki]]
[[it:Chaki]]
[[ja:茶器]]