Each is only 12 centimeters, less than 5 inches across, but inside is what seems to be “a galaxy aglow with stars”…

There are only three intact centuries-old Yohen Tenmoku tea bowls known to still exist in the world. The bowls are believed to have been produced at Jian-yao kiln in China’s Fujian province during the Song dynasty (1127-1279). Although it wasn’t until the Muromachi era (1338-1573) when the custom of tea began to take root, they were brought back to Japan as a gift by a Japanese Zen monk who was receiving training at Tianmoku Mountain, (pronounced “Tenmoku” in Japanese) in China’s coastal Zhejiang province.

The Tenmoku type are black glazed bowls with the inside surface covered with iridescent patterns and lapis lazuli colored areas surrounded by lighter colors ranging from blue to bluish purple. “Yohen” meaning how the glistening patterns transform with light. These patterns were created while the bowls were being fired, the manner in which they were created remains unknown, but they are thought to not be reproducible. They have been preserved as the most precious pieces among black tea bowls produced at Jian kiln.

Recently, fragments of Yohen Tenmoku were excavated for the first time in China from the site of the Imperial guesthouse in Lin’an (Hangzhou) the capitol in the Southern Song Dynasty, which drew much attention in world news.

Since the Muromachi-era in Japan, the Yohen Tenmoku bowls have been regarded as the highest grade of Tenmoku-ware. Owned by Ryoko-in, a sub-temple of Daitokuji Temple in Kyoto, Fujita Museum of Art in Osaka, and Seikado Bunko Art Museum in Tokyo, they are all three designated by the Japanese government as Important National Treasures.

The Seikado Bunko Art Museum:
It is a great honor and brings us much joy for Pagong Kyoto to have been selected to replicate these ancient patterns of the Yohen Tenmoku by the Seikado Bunko Art Museum in Tokyo, to be admired and appreciated by art enthusiasts once more!