Chaki
Encyclopedia
Chaki is a Japanese term that literally means "tea implement." In the vocabulary of Japanese tea ceremony
, it broadly means (1) any implement used in the practice of chanoyu, and more narrowly means (2) the caddy for the powdered green tea (matcha
) used in the tea-making procedures, although usually this implies (3) the caddies used in the procedures for making thin tea (usucha). In this article, the term applies to definition 2.
The caddies generally referred to as chaki are relatively small lidded containers, and are not storage vessels. In preparing to perform a tea-making procedure (temae), the host carefully selects the caddy for the matcha that will be used, and, as an important part of the preparations, neatly places the matcha into it. The chaki is chosen to harmonize with the other equipment used for the occasion, and the chaki is among the items the guests pay particular attention to.
Chaki are classified both by material and shape, as well as by the type of tea preparation (thin tea or thick tea) for which they are used.
Wood or bamboo chaki normally are for use in the procedures to make thin tea, and are also called usucha-ki (薄茶器, "implement for thin tea," often abbreviated usuki). Commonly these are of the shape category called natsume (棗, "jujube
"), and so usucha-ki in general tend to be loosely referred to as natsume.
Both chaire 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.
Broadly speaking, an usucha-ki is a wooden vessel with a lid, designed to hold powdered tea for making thin tea. Traditionally, usucha-ki are hand-carved from wood or bamboo, and usually are lacquer
ed. They may also feature designs painted, applied, or carved into them, using for instance the maki-e
or raden
techniques. Today, cheaper, mass-produced plastic
usucha-ki are also available.
The name "natsume" comes from the natsume or jujube
fruit, which some usucha-ki are said to resemble. Strictly speaking, the word natsume should only be used to refer to vessels which have a slightly convex top and body that gradually narrows toward the base, but in practice any usucha-ki 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.
, is credited as the originator of this style of container for powdered tea which at first, as a rule, was black-lacquered. Records of tea gatherings held by Sen Rikyū reveal that he used natsume, and that in his day natsume were used for koicha (thick tea).
The basic type is the "Rikyū shape" (Rikyū-gata 利休形), which comes in three sizes: large(大棗 ō-natsume), medium (中棗 chū-natsume), and small (小棗 ko-natsume). With the orthodox Rikyū-gata natsume, typically finished in plain black lacquer inside and out, the lid fits onto the body at about 7/10 the distance up from the base. There is tremendous variation among the other different types and sizes of natsume, however. For example, the diameter of the flat type (hira-natsume 平棗) generally is about twice the dimension of the vessel's height.
The term chaire generally refers to a relatively small ceramic jar with a lid, used to hold the tea powder for use in making thick tea (koicha). The lid is traditionally made from elephant ivory
with a gold leaf
ed underside, though today lids are usually created from other materials made to resemble ivory.
as bottles for oil or medicine, and were imported into Japan for use as tea caddies up to the end of the Ashikaga
or start of the Tokugawa era.
, while wamono are those that originated in Japan
. These can be further subdivided by kiln or potter as well as shape.
, in the old province of Owari (present Aichi Prefecture), are considered the original Japanese kilns to produce chaire, and so traditionally the chaire from the Seto kilns do not fall into the category called kuniyakimono or "provincial ware". Also, the various kilns in Kyoto are not regarded as "provincial ware".
Japanese tea ceremony
The Japanese tea ceremony, also called the Way of Tea, is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha, powdered green tea. In Japanese, it is called . The manner in which it is performed, or the art of its performance, is called...
, it broadly means (1) any implement used in the practice of chanoyu, and more narrowly means (2) the caddy for the powdered green tea (matcha
Matcha
refers to finely-milled green tea, most popular in Japan. The cultural activity called the Japanese tea ceremony centers on the preparation, serving, and drinking of matcha. In modern times, matcha has also come to be used to flavour and dye foods such as mochi and soba noodles, green tea ice cream...
) used in the tea-making procedures, although usually this implies (3) the caddies used in the procedures for making thin tea (usucha). In this article, the term applies to definition 2.
The caddies generally referred to as chaki are relatively small lidded containers, and are not storage vessels. In preparing to perform a tea-making procedure (temae), the host carefully selects the caddy for the matcha that will be used, and, as an important part of the preparations, neatly places the matcha into it. The chaki is chosen to harmonize with the other equipment used for the occasion, and the chaki is among the items the guests pay particular attention to.
Chaki are classified both by material and shape, as well as by the type of tea preparation (thin tea or thick tea) for which they are used.
Styles and classification
Chaki can be divided into two broad categories: those made of ceramic, and those made of wood or bamboo. Normally, ceramic chaki are for use in the procedures to make thick tea (koicha), and are called chaire (茶入, "tea container") or koicha-ki (濃茶器; "implement for thick tea").Wood or bamboo chaki normally are for use in the procedures to make thin tea, and are also called usucha-ki (薄茶器, "implement for thin tea," often abbreviated usuki). Commonly these are of the shape category called natsume (棗, "jujube
Jujube
Ziziphus zizyphus , commonly called jujube , red date, Chinese date, Korean date, or Indian date is a species of Ziziphus in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae, used primarily as a fruiting shade tree.-Distribution:Its precise natural distribution is uncertain due to extensive cultivation,...
"), and so usucha-ki in general tend to be loosely referred to as natsume.
Both chaire 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.
Usucha-ki / natsume
Lacquerware
Lacquerware are objects decoratively covered with lacquer. The lacquer is sometimes inlaid or carved. Lacquerware includes boxes, tableware, buttons and even coffins painted with lacquer in cultures mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere.-History:...
ed. They may also feature designs painted, applied, or carved into them, using for instance the maki-e
Maki-e
is Japanese lacquer sprinkled with gold or silver powder as a decoration using a makizutsu or a kebo brush. The technique was developed mainly in the Heian Period and blossomed in the Edo Period...
or raden
Raden
, also known as "Japaning" in the UK, is a Japanese decorative craft used in the creation of lacquerware and woodwork, though it can be applied to metal and other surfaces...
techniques. Today, cheaper, mass-produced plastic
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
usucha-ki are also available.
The name "natsume" comes from the natsume or jujube
Jujube
Ziziphus zizyphus , commonly called jujube , red date, Chinese date, Korean date, or Indian date is a species of Ziziphus in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae, used primarily as a fruiting shade tree.-Distribution:Its precise natural distribution is uncertain due to extensive cultivation,...
fruit, which some usucha-ki are said to resemble. Strictly speaking, the word natsume should only be used to refer to vessels which have a slightly convex top and body that gradually narrows toward the base, but in practice any usucha-ki 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
A lacquer artist named Haneda Gorō, who lived in the era of Higashiyama Culture and did lacquer work for Ashikaga YoshimasaAshikaga Yoshimasa
was the 8th shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate who reigned from 1449 to 1473 during the Muromachi period of Japan. Yoshimasa was the son of the sixth shogun Ashikaga Yoshinori....
, is credited as the originator of this style of container for powdered tea which at first, as a rule, was black-lacquered. Records of tea gatherings held by Sen Rikyū reveal that he used natsume, and that in his day natsume were used for koicha (thick tea).
Types of natsume
Chaire
-
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.
-
The term chaire generally refers to a relatively small ceramic jar with a lid, used to hold the tea powder for use in making thick tea (koicha). The lid is traditionally made from elephant ivory
Ivory
Ivory is a term for dentine, which constitutes the bulk of the teeth and tusks of animals, when used as a material for art or manufacturing. Ivory has been important since ancient times for making a range of items, from ivory carvings to false teeth, fans, dominoes, joint tubes, piano keys and...
with a gold leaf
Gold leaf
right|thumb|250px|[[Burnishing]] gold leaf with an [[agate]] stone tool, during the water gilding processGold leaf is gold that has been hammered into extremely thin sheets and is often used for gilding. Gold leaf is available in a wide variety of karats and shades...
ed underside, though today lids are usually created from other materials made to resemble ivory.
History of chaire
According to Sadler, chaire were originally used in China in the Song periodSong Dynasty
The Song Dynasty was a ruling dynasty in China between 960 and 1279; it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, and was followed by the Yuan Dynasty. It was the first government in world history to issue banknotes or paper money, and the first Chinese government to establish a...
as bottles for oil or medicine, and were imported into Japan for use as tea caddies up to the end of the Ashikaga
Ashikaga shogunate
The , also known as the , was a Japanese feudal military regime, ruled by the shoguns of the Ashikaga clan.This period is also known as the Muromachi period and gets its name from Muromachi Street of Kyoto where the third shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu established his residence...
or start of the Tokugawa era.
Types of chaire
Chaire can be divided into two broad types: karamono and wamono (sometimes referred to as kuniyakimono). Karamono are chaire that originated in or are made to resemble those created in ChinaChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, while wamono are those that originated in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. These can be further subdivided by kiln or potter as well as shape.
Karamono
Karamono chaire are classified by shape:- Nasu (茄子): The "eggplant" chaire is a medium-sized vessel named for its shape, which resembles that of an aubergine.
- Bunrin (文琳): The "apple" chaire shape.
- Bunna (文茄): The "apple-eggplant" chaire shape, falling between the nasu and bunrin shapes.
- Katatsuki (肩衝): The "protruding shoulder" chaire, the most common type, named for its pronounced "shoulders" at the vessel's top.
- Marutsubo (丸壺): The "round jar" shape.
- Taikai (大海): The "big oceanOceanAn ocean is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the hydrosphere. Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean, a continuous body of water that is customarily divided into several principal oceans and smaller seas.More than half of this area is over 3,000...
" chaire, which is quite large in diameter and has a wide mouth, in comparison to its height. A smaller sub-type of this shape is known as naikai or uchiumi (内海). - Tsurukubi (鶴首): The "crane's neck" chaire that has a long slender neck.
- Shiribukura (尻膨), also referred to as shirihari/shiribari (尻張): The "bulging hip" chaire shape, distinguished by its wide lower portion.
Wamono
Wamono chaire are classified by the names of kilns (production centers) and potters. The kilns in SetoSeto
-Places:*Seto, Aichi, production place of Japanese pottery and venue of Expo 2005*Seto, Ehime, faces the Seto Inland Sea*Seto, Okayama, adjacent to Okayama, in Okayama Prefecture*Seto Inland Sea of Japan-People and fictional characters:...
, in the old province of Owari (present Aichi Prefecture), are considered the original Japanese kilns to produce chaire, and so traditionally the chaire from the Seto kilns do not fall into the category called kuniyakimono or "provincial ware". Also, the various kilns in Kyoto are not regarded as "provincial ware".
Provincial ware (kuniyakimono)
- Karatsu wareKaratsu wareis a style of pottery produced in and around Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, Japan. There are several variations produced in surrounding areas: Takeo Kokaratsu ware , Taku Kokaratsu ware, and Hirado Kokaratsu ware. There are also varieties based on style: Painted Karatsu, Mottled Karatsu, and Korean...
- Satsuma wareSatsuma ware]Satsuma ware , sometimes referred to as "Satsuma porcelain", is a type of Japanese earthenware pottery. It originated in the late 16th century, during the Azuchi-Momoyama period, and is still produced today...
- Shigaraki ware
- Sobokai ware
- Takatori wareTakatori ware' is a pottery ware made in Nougata City, Fukuoka Prefecture.The kiln which made this ware became one of the famous Seven Kilns which made wares for the tea ceremony master Kobori Enshu.-References:*...
- Tanba ware
- Bizen ware
- Shidoro ware
- Zeze ware
