Celadon Chawan Seiji Bakohan utsushi

This tea bowl is a replica of a historical tea bowl known as “Bakohan” (National Treasure of Japan).

This celadon tea bowl was crafted by Imaoka Myoken, a skilled artisan specializing in traditional ceramics.

Celadon, or Seiji, refers to ceramics glazed with a distinctive jade green color. The beautiful hue is achieved through the use of iron in the glaze, which is enhanced by reduction firing in a kiln at temperatures of around 1200°C. Celadon ceramics began to be produced in large quantities during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) in China, where they were highly prized by Literati and intellectuals. Production became more stable during the Song Dynasty (960-1279), and the tradition gradually spread across East Asia, reaching Japan by the 11th century.

This celadon bowl is a reproduction of the famous Seiji chawan, or celadon bowl, known as “Bakohan,” which is housed in the Tokyo National Museum as an Important Cultural Property. The bowl is admired for its exquisite shape and color. The story of how it came to Japan is well-known, particularly through the account written by the Confucian scholar Ito Togai (1670-1736) in his book Bakohansaouki (1727). According to Togai, Taira no Shigemori (1138-1179), a Shogun at the end of the Heian period, presented gold to a temple on Ikuosan (Asoka Mountain) in Hangzhou, China, during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279). Ikuosan was a Buddhist sanctuary, and in return for his donation, the Zen master Bussho-zenji gifted Taira no Shigemori the celadon bowl known as “Bakohan.”

Later, the bowl passed to Yoshimasa Ashikaga (1449-1473), a Shogun during the Muromachi period (1391-1492). Upon discovering cracks at the bottom of the bowl, Yoshimasa sent it to China, requesting a replacement. However, since no porcelain of such quality was being produced in Ming-era China, the cracks were repaired by clamping, and the bowl was returned to him. The clamps resembled large locusts, and it is from this that the name “Bakohan” was derived, with “Ko” meaning “locust” in Japanese.

This reproduction closely mirrors the original bowl in both design and color.

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☆ HANDMADE PRODUCT - Please note that the item we have in stock might not be the same piece shown on the pictures above. Each piece is unique and slightly different from each other. If you are particular about either the size, the capacity or the appearance, contact us, and we will share photos or the exact details of our available pieces in stock.

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