Tougei 陶芸 (Ceramic Arts)

“Tougei”（陶芸） is the oldest techniques to make earthenware in the world.
In Japan, there are many kinds of earthenware are improved, and nowadays there are fused into modern design and technologies, that became highly evaluated.

DESCRIPTION
There are 2 types of earthenware in Japan, “Touki”（陶器） and “Jiki”（磁器）.

【Touki】
“Touki” is the oldest earthenware in the world and which unearthed in Japan was the oldest one.
So, there are very long and multiple history, also it was used for ritual.
In 16th century, it was achieved universal popularity, triggered by the “Sen-no-Rikyu”, who developed “Sado”(tea celemony).

“Touki” is made by the clay, and burn at high temperature after glazed. It take many time to bake, so humid falled out and high polished.
The strength was good for using in “Sado”.

【Jiki】
“Jiki” was spreaded from China and developed in 17th century. The difference between “Touki” and “Jiki” are material and baking temperature. “Jiki” is also used clay but it is mixed with mineral. And it is baked by more high temperature than “Touki”.
In these reason, “Jiki” is hard and thin.

EXPERIENCE
There are some place to experience the “Tougei”. This is the way to make it.
1. To make a shape using “Rokuro”(spinning lathe), and dry it.
2. Baked in 800~900 degrees. This process called “suyaki”(pre-bake before bake pottery).
3. Draw a pattern into it.
4. Paint a graze
5. Baked in 1,200~1,300 degrees. This process called “honyaki”(bake pottery) .
6. Complete the drawing pattern.
7. Baked in 800 degrees to stay the pattern.