Tea ceremony

Kōdō 香道, often translated as “The way of fragrance,” is known as one of three classical Japanese arts of refinement for the Japanese tea ceremony (sadō) . Codified during the Muromachi period, Kōdō is both an aesthetic pursuit and a meditative discipline. Kōdō also encompasses a rich world of implements and material culture that span ceramics, metalwork, woodcraft, and other mediums. Incense burners known as kōro, often fitted with ceramic or metal lids. Ceramic containers for storing incense (Kōgo), are also among the central objects associated with this practice. These forms, represented in this catalog, embody the relationship between fragrance and ritual through craft. Learn more about the Japanese art of fragrance in this article.

[NEW] Journals from Japan: read director Beatrice Chang's reflections on the recent solo exhibition of celebrated artist Miwa Ryukishō (formerly Miwa Ryosaku, and Kyusetsu) in Japan.

 

“Modern visual taste, weaned on the sculptural Impressionism of Bourdelle and Rodin or on the painterly abstractions of Pollock and Dubuffet – that is, trained to accept the semiotic language of organic process – can more easily embrace the “accidental” attributes of Raku, Iga, Bizen, Shigaraki, Karatsu, and Tamba glazes.”

 

Read more about aspects of contemporary taste for the ceramic tea bowl.