Raku Chawan

I love raku pieces since you never really know how they are going to come out.  The raku piece in class reminded me of the Japanese tea bowl, also known as chawan.  They are used during Japanese tea ceremonies (known as Chado) and are a big part of Japanese culture.  Chado was introduced by Sen no Rikyu before the Edo period and was influenced by Zen Buddhism.  It introduced the elements of harmony, respect, purity and tranquility to the Japanese people and soon it became a kind of art form.  Even the cups that they sip tea from are a part of that artistic experience.  Before drinking from the chawan it is important to take the time to admire the amount of craft and beauty there is in it.  It may sound odd, but you must take the time to treasure the chawan as a work of art.

The two pictures I have selected are examples of raku chawan and even though they may be somewhat lopsided and not considered "even".  The Japanese love this aspect and enjoy its simple, artistic beauty.