A nasu chaire has a body swelling roundly like the aubergine fruit, and it is a representative form among celebrated imported jars. Against the composed severity of the shouldered jar, the nasu is soft and engaging, and it reads as approachable rather than imposing.
Its small, rounded form is stable, and the appearance of the body when the pouch is removed shows to best effect. Like other jars it is treated as a set with its pouch.
History
The lineage traces back to Chinese small jars and came to Japan as imported ware. Several of the most widely known celebrated jars are of this form.
In practice
The contrast with katatsuki is the practical point: choosing a nasu rather than a shouldered jar states something about the register of the gathering before any tea is made.
Sources
- 茄子（デジタル大辞泉 / 精選版 日本国語大辞典） / コトバンク
Supports: 茄子（茶入）が「丸形で口もとがすぼみ、中央がふくらんだ形のもの」であること。精選版日本国語大辞典は「数少なく、唐物の最上品とする」と評すること
About this article
Edited by the operator of Chaen (a one-person operation) / Last updated:
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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.
- Fubuki-natsume (snow-flurry natsume)fubuki-natsume
A natsume whose scattered gold and silver decoration suggests driving snow; a winter container.
- Katatsuki chaire (shouldered thick-tea jar)katatsuki chaire
A thick-tea jar whose shoulder projects horizontally below the mouth; among the most highly ranked forms.