Raku ware (楽焼, raku-yaki) is a type of Japanese pottery traditionally used in Japanese tea ceremonies, most often in the form of chawan tea bowls.
Raku is a low fire process, reaching around 1830F (1000C) at its highest temperature. In raku, pottery is removed from the kiln when red hot. It is cooled rapidly, often in combustible material like sawdust or paper. Raku firing is usually done in a fuel-burning, rather than an electric kiln.
What is Raku Pottery? A Beginners Guide on How To Make Raku
Raku pottery is a Japanese style where pots are taken out of the kiln while hot and cooled quickly, giving each piece unique, colorful cracks.
What was first developed as ceremonial tea ware for Zen Buddhist Masters in the 16th century, raku pottery was originally prized in its simplicity and its intentional avoidance of opulence, both of which were important to the Zen philosophy.
Raku ware, Japanese hand-molded lead-glazed earthenware, originally invented in 16th-century Kyōto by the potter Chōjirō, who was commissioned by Zen tea master Sen Rikyū to design wares expressly for the tea ceremony.
Traditionally used in Japanese tea ceremonies, rakuware (楽焼, raku-yaki) is a famous type of Japanese pottery. This art form was highly appreciated by tea masters for the purity and unpretentiousness of the objects, especially chawan tea bowls.
Raku translates roughly to “Happiness in the accident.” Some believe this name came about from potters who took joy in the process of shaping their Raku wares. Paul Soldner said that the Japanese think of Raku as pleasurable and an enjoyable process. The term could also be thought of as comfort.