A katatsuki chaire has a shoulder that projects horizontally just below the mouth. It is one of the most highly ranked forms among imported Chinese jars and has been valued for centuries. The stability of the body and the construction of the mouth are in accord, giving it a presence that makes it something like the emblem of the thick-tea container.
A crisply set shoulder over a tightly drawn body is the typical katatsuki, and the way the glaze runs from shoulder to body gives each piece its individuality. Properly it is treated as a set together with its silk pouch.
History
The lineage traces back to Chinese small jars and medicine jars, which came to Japan alongside the utensils of Zen temples. Many of the most celebrated named jars are of this form, which is part of why the shape carries the standing it does.
In practice
Used for thick tea at formal gatherings. During examination guests look at the line of the shoulder, the mouth, and the movement of the glaze down the body.
Sources
- 肩衝（デジタル大辞泉 / 精選版 日本国語大辞典） / コトバンク
Supports: 肩衝が「肩の部分が角ばっている（張っている）茶入れ」を指す茶入の形の一つであること
About this article
Edited by the operator of Chaen (a one-person operation) / Last updated:
Tea ceremony descriptions can vary by school and source. Where interpretations differ, this glossary avoids definitive claims and focuses on broadly shared understandings. If you notice an error, please let us know viaContact. To learn about our organization, seeAbout Chaen.
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Related terms
- Chaire (thick-tea container)chaire
The ceramic jar holding matcha for thick tea; wrapped in a silk pouch and treated as the most highly ranked utensil of a gathering.
- Nakatsugi (cylindrical thin-tea container)nakatsugi
A cylindrical container separating at the middle; an older form than the natsume.
- Fubuki-natsume (snow-flurry natsume)fubuki-natsume
A natsume whose scattered gold and silver decoration suggests driving snow; a winter container.
- Nasu chaire (aubergine-shaped jar)nasu chaire
A rounded thick-tea jar swelling like an aubergine; softer in feeling than the shouldered form.