The Cosmos in a Tea Bowl: Transmitting a Secret Art Across Generations of the Raku Family

The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto

Raku, Kichizaemon XV, Black Raku cylindrical tea bowl yakinuki type, called "Hakugyo", 1999, The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto

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The Raku ware tradition has continued uninterrupted since the 16th century, beginning with Chojiro, the first head of the Raku family, to Kichizaemon, the current, 15th head of the family. The isshisoden method of transmitting the secrets of an art from father to only one son was adopted as a way of embodying the ideas of Sen no Rikyu’s wabi-cha tea ceremony. While witnessing many temporal changes, this fascinating approach, which strikes us as quite odd today, has been maintained without any slackening. Today, some 450 years and 15 generations later, the entire body of Raku ware has even more to convey to contemporary viewers. In a sense, the works seem to be the product of a single artist. Along with pieces by the early 17th century artist Honami Koetsu, a close associate of the Raku family, this exhibition surveys the aesthetic world of Raku ware while also touching on Japan’s uniquely spiritual culture.

[Related Event]
Special Talk: Bando Tamasaburo V (Kabuki actor) x Kichizaemon
Date: Feb. 8
Admission: 2500 yen
Venue: Miyako Messe
Reservations required. Please see the official website for details.