Koshi refers to the lower part of a vessel's body, where it draws in toward the foot. It is the element that fixes the posture of the whole.
What to look at
How the waist draws in decides whether a vessel reads as standing, sitting, or crouching. The expression is used particularly for thick-tea jars and bowls.
In practice
It appears in describing posture — a jar with a firm waist, a bowl with a settled waist. These are not decorative judgements: a vessel whose waist is wrong looks unstable even when it is not.
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
- Chado (The Way of Tea)chado
The Japanese practice of preparing and serving powdered green tea, treated as a lifelong discipline rather than a beverage ritual.
- Wabiwabi
Finding sufficiency of mind within insufficiency and plainness; one of the root concepts of tea practice.
- Ichigo ichie (one time, one meeting)ichigo ichie
The principle that every gathering is unrepeatable, and should therefore be treated as if it will never occur again.
- Kodai (foot ring)kodai
The foot at the base of a bowl or jar; cut last, and the place where the maker's hand shows most directly.
- Do (the body)do
The whole side of a vessel, running from shoulder to waist; the largest determinant of its form.
- Kuchi-zukuri (the rim)kuchi-zukuri
The treatment, flare, and thickness of a vessel's rim; for a bowl it decides how the tea drinks.
- Tatami-tsuki (the standing surface)tatami-tsuki
The part of a vessel touching the mats — the outer circumference of the foot, where wear accumulates.