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Hagi Ware (Yamaguchi Prefecture) is a glazed, high-fired stoneware; a style especially famous for its milky, white-glazed teaware.
Like many of the great Japanese ceramic traditions of western Japan, Hagi originated with Korean potters. Indeed, in the Momoyama era (1573-1603) and in the early years of the Edo period (1603 - 1867), ceramics like Karatsu, Agano, Satsuma, and Takatori first saw their wheels set in motion when, willingly or not, Korean potters were brought back to Japan in the "pottery wars" of 1592 and 1597-98.
The tradition of Hagi pottery is said to spring from two Korean brothers, Ri Shakko and Ri Kei, who first fired Hagi sometime around Keicho 9 (1604) in Matsumoto-Nakanokura, near Hagi in what is now Yamaguchi Prefecture. From these beginnings sprang a grand ceramic style that has been a focus of the tea world ever since.
Many Edo-Period kilns were funded by the daimyo. Lord Mori Terumoto of Hagi employed the Ri brothers of Korea, thus ensuring chadogu (tea utencils) for his personal use and as gifts. Shakko's son had the Japanese name of Yamamura Shinbei Mitsumasa, while Kei was given the name Saka Koraizaemon. They established the Fukagawa Hagi kiln. The Matsumoto Hagi kiln was established by Miwa Kyusetsu in 1663. The Saka and Miwa families continue to this day. For an expanded version of the above information, please click here.
Using & Cleaning Your Hagi Ware
Because Hagi ware easily absorbs precipitation through its tiny cracks, please pay attention to the following intstructions.
- Soak the new Hagi ware in water before use
- Wash and dry it well after use
- Since the ware sometimes has a rough foot-ring, be cautious about using it upon lacquer ware
- Do not use it in a microwave or ordinary oven
Ido Ware
(Click here for Outside Review)
Related to Hagi is Ido tea ware. Ido ware was a cheap earthenware made in Korea in the 15th century and used widely by commoners as rice bowls. But after Ido ware appeared in Japan, tea masters began to use the larger Ido rice bowls as tea bowls, appreciating their simple beauty. Typically Ido ware has a slightly everted mouth and is fired with a natural ash glaze.
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