Raku bowls are made by the Raku family of Kyoto, hand-formed and fired at low temperature, and they stand as the emblem of the wabi tea Rikyu envisaged. Shaped with the hands and a spatula rather than on the wheel, and fired comparatively cool, they have a soft body, a light feel in the hand, and a warmth transmitted to the palm that no other bowl matches.
Unlike the composed, wheel-thrown Chinese and Korean bowls, each Raku bowl differs slightly, holding real depth inside a plainness that avoids any display of skill. Black and red Raku give very different impressions, and are chosen against the theme of the sitting.
History
The type dates to the Momoyama period and is attributed to Chojiro, who made hand-formed bowls at Rikyu's direction. From Chojiro through the present head, the Raku family has transmitted its technique by single-line succession, and the differences between generations — Hon'ami Koetsu's forceful black, Donyu's glossier black — are themselves a subject of appreciation.
In practice
Because the walls are thick and the firing low, a Raku bowl holds heat and is comfortable to hold, which suits it to thick tea in the colder months. It is also more fragile than a wheel-thrown bowl, and guests handle it with corresponding care during examination.
The ranking of bowls
The saying ichi Raku, ni Hagi, san Karatsu — "first Raku, second Hagi, third Karatsu" — places Raku at the head of the domestic wares for tea. The ordering reflects standing within tea practice rather than any judgement of ceramic quality in general.
Sources
- 長次郎（デジタル大辞泉ほか複数辞典） / コトバンク
Supports: 楽茶碗の創始者・長次郎が千利休の指導のもとで茶碗を作ったこと。開始時期は辞典により天正年間（1573〜92）中頃、天正14年（1586）、天正7年（1579）頃と幅があるため、ここでは天正年間という広い時期のみを引く
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.
Try it with your hands
Raku — fire your own tea bowlShape the clay, glaze it, pull it from the kiln — then use it in IppukuTerm info
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Related terms
- Chawan (tea bowl)chawan
The bowl in which tea is whisked and drunk — usually the most closely examined object in a gathering.
- Kuro Raku chawan (black Raku bowl)kuro raku chawan
Black-glazed Raku bowls, the most formal of the type, which set off the deep green of thick tea.
- Aka Raku chawan (red Raku bowl)aka raku chawan
Raku bowls with a soft reddish body under a clear glaze; warmer in feeling and suited to spring.