This study set out to examine changes to the Busan Waegwanyo Kiln set up to supply ceramics needed for the Japanese tea ceremony amidst Joseon-Japan relations after Imjinwaeran and analyze the characteristics of made-to-order ceramics those days based...
This study set out to examine changes to the Busan Waegwanyo Kiln set up to supply ceramics needed for the Japanese tea ceremony amidst Joseon-Japan relations after Imjinwaeran and analyze the characteristics of made-to-order ceramics those days based on order sheets filled out for custom made ceramics. As Japan developed its unique tea ceremony culture called Chadoyu, Japanese people got to pay attention to ceramics of Joseon that perfectly fit their "Wabi” spirit. As the desire for Joseon-made bowls grew among Japanese people, the shogunate of Japan ordered the Beonju of Tsusima to ensure the supply of tea bowls to be used in the tea ceremony.
The Beonju of Tsusima thus set up the Busan Waegwanyo Kiln in Waegwan, Busan after getting consent from the Joseon government, beginning to manufacture Japanese made-to-order ceramics in full scale. By analyzing the order sheet titled "Eojomulgong” filled out to process an order those days, the investigator found out characteristics of Japanese made-to-order ceramics: first, orders were concentrated on tea bowls in the early days, but their order volume gradually decreased toward the latter part of the period with growing orders for tea service including vases and incense burners; secondly, there was preference for articles with "pine, bamboo & apricot trees”, "peonies” and "arabesque” patterns reflecting the taste of Japanese shogunate or daimyos. This trend was seen in overall Japanese made-to-order ceramics; and finally, the preference for "pine, bamboo & apricot tree” patterns reflects the situation of the times when Japan accepted Confucianism, as well. Accounting for the biggest proportion in Japanese made-to-order ceramics, made-to-order tea bowls were classified into three major formative features including Woongcheon, Tonghyeong, and Ido tea bowls. Ogi and Eobon tea bowls represent made-to-order tea bowls produced at the Busan Waegwanyo Kiln. Both of them were huge hits as the best tools for the tea ceremony well equipped what the Japanese shogunate and daimyos wanted those days, having enormous impacts on the tea ceremony culture of Japan.
The made-to-order tea bowls produced at the Busan Waegwanyo Kiln are the products of Joseon's soil, ceramic masters' techniques, and Japanese people's taste. In the future, more ongoing interest and research on the topic will hopefully lay a foundation for exchanges in ceramic culture between Korea and Japan in the history of ceramics.