History of Raku Ware

Making of Raku ware was initiated by Chôjirô, the first generation of the Raku family, during the Momoyama period (1573-1615). At that time three-coloured glazed pottery, san cai ware, based on technology from the Fujian region of China was produced in and around Kyoto. Chôjirô was presumably familiar with such techniques. A written record confirms that Ameya, Chôjirô's father, originally from China, is thought to have been the one who introduced the techniques of three-coloured glazed pottery from China, although none of his works has survived to prove this. These Japanese san cai wares, however, were not called Raku wares. It was only after Chôjirô had become acquainted with the tea master Sen Rikyû (1522-1591) who asked Chôjirô to make tea bowls for the tea ceremony under his guidance that the Raku ware came into being. It could be said that the origin of Raku ware lay in the making of a single tea bowl for the tea ceremony.