![Hasami porcelain](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/Hasami_porcelain.jpg)
is a type of
Japanese pottery
, is one of the oldest Japanese crafts and art forms, dating back to the Neolithic period. Kilns have produced earthenware, pottery, stoneware, glazed pottery, glazed stoneware, porcelain, and blue-and-white ware. Japan has an exceptionally ...
traditionally from
Hasami, Nagasaki
is a town located in Higashisonogi District, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. It is known, along with neighboring Arita, Saga Prefecture for its china manufacturing.
As of 2 September 2021, the town has an estimated population of 14,511. The total ...
prefecture. Originally produced for common people, Hasami porcelain has a history of 400 years.
[ ]
In 1599, when the Korean potter
Yi Sam-pyeong
Kanagae Sanbee () in historical sources, was a Japanese potter who is said to have moved from Korea. He is often considered the father of Arita ware porcelain, although the narrative is today questioned by historians.Komiya Kiyora 小宮木代 ...
was brought to Japan by the feudal lord of the
Ōmura clan Omura (小村) or Ōmura (大村) are Japanese surnames, but may also refer to:
* Ōmura, Nagasaki, a city located in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan
* Omura's whale (''Balaenoptera omurai''), a species of rorqual about which very little is known
People ...
,
Ōmura Yoshiaki
was a ruling head of the clan of Ōmura throughout the latter Sengoku period of Feudal Japan. As Yoshiaki was the respective son of Ōmura Sumitada, he followed his father in succession at some variable time, at which relations with the Jesuits ...
(大村喜前Ōmura Yoshiaki) after the Japanese Invasion of Korea, manufacturers in Hatanohara, Furusaraya, Yamanita and
Hasami began the construction of climbing kilns and pottery centers.
Typical Hasami porcelain uses
underglaze
Underglaze is a method of decorating pottery in which painted decoration is applied to the surface before it is covered with a transparent ceramic glaze and fired in a kiln. Because the glaze subsequently covers it, such decoration is completely ...
cobalt blue and celadon, but at first they produced
stoneware
Stoneware is a rather broad term for pottery or other ceramics fired at a relatively high temperature. A modern technical definition is a Vitrification#Ceramics, vitreous or semi-vitreous ceramic made primarily from stoneware clay or non-refracto ...
s. Later the materials for porcelain were found, so gradually they started to make porcelain. They eventually became a specialty product in Omura Domain, where they produced the biggest quantity of porcelain in the country in the latter Edo period.
Omura Domain established a Sarayama public office to manage and put more effort to manufacturing Hasami porcelain. Most of their products are for the daily usage such as Kurawanka-wan. It is one of the most well-known Hasami porcelain, which is a strong, heavy and simple bowl of arabesque design for common people. Hasami porcelain gave a strong influence on food culture at that time.
Hasami porcelains are produced in the huge
climbing kiln
The ''anagama'' kiln (Japanese Kanji: 穴窯/ Hiragana: あながま) is an ancient type of pottery kiln brought to Japan from China via Korea in the 5th century. It is a version of the climbing dragon kiln of south China, whose further devel ...
and because of its economical prices, spread around the country and eventually all over the world. The remains of kilns found around the town tell us the historic aspects of Hasami porcelain.
The manufacturers today are trying to develop new techniques to produce quality daily dishes while keeping on its tradition cultivated with “stone and fire”.
References
External links
* http://www.hasamiyaki.or.jp/
Culture in Nagasaki Prefecture
Japanese pottery
Japanese porcelain
{{Japan-art-stub