Southeast Asian Ceramics Museum Newsletter Volume VII Number 1 June-Sept 2013

Editor: Special exhibition entitled Qing Export in the Kingdom of Pariwat Siam During the Arrival of Chinese Junks, exhibited by Southeast Thammapreechakorn Asian Ceramics Museum of University

Editorial staff: The exhibition is open daily with free the edges were painted black with red Burin Singtoaj admission at The Museum Siam (National eyes like a fish. The hull was painted Atthasit Sukkham Wannaporn Khambut Discovery Museum) until September 30, white. This was the hongtou chuan John Toomey 2013. which means “Red Head Junk” and both Walter Kassela Learn the history of the arrivals of sides of the end of the junk were painted Chinese junks to , since the with a picture of a lion with a sword or a Reporters: Ayutthaya period, through the Chinese dai ji pattern (Yin Yang symbol). Ang Choulean, Ann Proctor, Augustine Vinh, export wares found in Thailand. Berenice Bellina, in this exhibition will During his reign, King Rama III Chang Kuang-Jen, include Qing dynasty export wares to ordered a viharn to be built in the form Chhay Rachna, Siam during the late Ayutthaya period. of a Chinese junk at Yannawa, Chhay Visoth, This extends from the reign of Kangxi to Bangkok to commemorate that the David Rehfuss, Dawn Rooney,Don Hein, the reign of Xuantong of the Qing dynasty, junk is a symbol of trade with Siam, Donald Stadtner, or from the reign of King Prasat Thong to and Chaozhou represents the relations Edward Von der Porten, the reign of King Rama V of Siam. between the Qing dynasty and Siam. Else Geraets, On exhibition is a Chinese junk model Although the time of Red Head junk has Eusebio Dizon, Gary Hill, used to transport ceramics to Siam already ended, it became a symbol the Hab Touch, Heidi Tan, Ho Chui Mei, Horst Liebner, during the late Ayutthaya period before world will never forget. th Ian Glover, Jennifer Rodrigo, changing to steamer ships in the 19 John Kleinen, century. Leng Rattanak, Li Guo, In the past, the Chinese junk was a Li Jianan, Louise Cort, bridge connecting the economic and Marie-France Dupoizat, Melody Rod-ari, cultural exchanges between China and Michael Flecker, countries around the world. This includes Mohd. Sherman bin Sauffi, acting as a link between the Chinese Ngueyn Xuan Hien, people living in overseas territories with Pamela Gutman, those in homeland China. In particular, Patrick McGlyn, Peter Burns, Philippe Colomban, the overseas Chinese came from the Pierre-Yves Manguin, provines of Guangdong and Fujian. Rasmi Shoocongdej, Rita Tan, The Red Head Junk was used for travel Sayan Praicharnjit, to Siam. This junk was used for the Shih Ching-fei, Sten Sjostrand, merchant trade and shipping from the Tim Hartill, ports of Hangzhou Bay. It is called hai Timothy Rebbeck, chuan ,meaning “ship”, and the larger Tira Vanichtheeranont, junk that sailed in the South China Sea Tran Ky Phuong, are called yang chuan, meaning “fleet”. Zheng Jin Ie Junks from Guangdong province were @ Email: made of hardwood. Under the gunwale [email protected] Southeast Asian Ceramics Museum Letter from the editor Inside this issue: This issue includes several interesting articles that we have the pleasure to give all reader. The first is a study of unglazed jar burials, which was discovered at the Special exhibition.... 1 ancient city of Bang Khlang by Wanaporn Khambut, our new assistant curator, as her master’s thesis. The second is the latest report of the thermoluminescence test Ritual Practice of the Jar of Ko Noi kilns no. 61 at Si Satchanalai conducted by the . 2 Burials at Bang Khlang.... The dating of unglazed is consistent with the dating of Chinese produced at kilns in Zhejiang and Guangdong that are dated to the reign of Hongzhi News in brief... 3 (late 15th to early 16th century), and are often found together. These unglazed jars Chinese Tea Ceramics have been also excavated at Penny’s Bay in Hong Kong and some archaeological sites in Bangkok National 4 in Japan. We will invite Dr.Sharon to report about unglazed jars at Penny’s Bay, and Museum Ko Mukai to report about jar burials in Japan in the next issue. In addition, there are Sukhothai and Si interesting articles about Chinese tea ceramics in the Satchanalai Ceramics... 7 by John J. Toomey and Mataban jars found in Kenya by Ceasar Bita and Atthasit Sukkham. page 2

RITUAL PRACTICE OF THE JAR the northern side of the temple BURIALS AT BANG KHLANG which has 69 burials, location B ANCIENT CITY, SUKHOTHAI on the southern side which has PROVINCE 42 burials,and location C on the eastern side which has 23 buri- The location of this archaeological als. In some of the jar burials the site is Bang Khlang ancient city, skeletal remains were burned Sawankalok district, Sukhothai with fire before being placed in province. Archaeological studies the jar. In some of them appli- conducted up to the present time ances and jewelry were put into have found remains in Bang Kh- the jar together with skeletal re- lang ancient city at 22 temples, mains as the grave goods. The including 4 temples within the jars used for jar burials are from city, and 18 temples outside the the Ko Noi kilns in Si Satchana- city. Archaeological excavations lai district, Sukhothai province. have been completed at some of Stoneware (Pottery #112, WB’99/101) the large temples. There is evi- The second phase was dur- dence of buildings used for reli- ing the late 15th to 16th centuries. These types of ceramics are also gious rituals, such as the viharn We found 12 unglazed earthen- used for secondary burials and of Bot and Yaichaiyamongkol ware pots containing skeletal assumed to be Ayutthaya style. Temples. remains. They were buried sur- rounding stupas that were built Reporter: Wannaporn Khambut The results of the study of the over the viharn of a Buddhist ritual practice of jar burials at temple. Most of the earthenware the Bot and Yaichaiyamongkol pots are primarily undecorated, Temples can be categorized in but some of them have stamped two different phases as follows: decoration on the shoulder. The first phase is during the late 14th to mid-15th centuries. Most of the ceramics are unglazed baluster-shaped stoneware jars with tiny token handles and incised decoration on the up- per shoulder. The skeletal re- mains were put inside the jar and buried under the wall of a Buddhist temple. The jars were also buried together as a large Pottery groups containing bones found Bot Temple group, such as location A on along the north wall

LATEST REPORT OF THERMOLUMINESCENCE TEST OF KILN NO. 61, KO NOI COMPLEX

At Si Satchanalai Historical Park every year in the rainy season an un- derground tunnel kiln at the kiln no. 61 site, Ko Noi complex (including kilns nos.176, 177 and 178) is damaged by underground water from a small canal located to the northwest with a very high risk of the col- lapse of the kiln and the wall. In order to prevent this The Fine Arts Department agrees to preserve the archaeology excavation site at the kiln no. 61’s Conservation and Learning Center. The final report of the Thermoluminescence (TL) test by the Earth Sciences Department, Faculty of SCIENCE, Kasetsart University, has been made after an excavation. Ten samples from the kiln site were selected, and the TL test result shows they are 450±50 years. The last activity at the kiln site is dated to the 16th century. Reporter: Bundit Thongaram, Fine Arts Department. page 3

MARTABAN JARS FOUND IN KENYA

Caesar Bita from the National Museum of Kenya has reported about the excavation and sur- vey finds by the archaeological research on the Kenyan coast during 1980s to 2000s.

A few ceramic vessels have been found from the underwater excavation of the 17th century Portuguese shipwreck named Santo Antonio de Tanna, which sunk in the Indian Ocean off the Kenyan coast. In the col- lection of Fort Jesus Museum in Mombasa where there were a few important port towns such as Malindi and Lamu in Kenya. Figs. 1 and 2 A Martaban brown glazed jar, the collection of Fort Jesus Museum in Mombasa. Martaban jars are among the in- teresting ceramic vessels in the 17th centuries (Figs. 1 ,2). collection there. They are Bur- mese blackish-brown glazed Moreover, Sumarah Adhayatman Reporters: Caesar Bita and jars with four strap handles, and Abu Ridho in 1985 men- Atthasit Sukkham appliqué decoration of dots tioned that this type of Mar- and lines on upper part, and taban jar have been found in dark reddish-brown body made , as evidence of the at Martaban in southern Burma trade between Indonesia and and dated around the 16th to lower Burma as well.

News in brief...

NEW RESEARCH ON THAI TRADE CERAMICS FOUND IN AND HONG KONG

The Southeast Asian Ceramics Museum (SEACM), Bangkok University assisted two research teams from Cambodia and Hong Kong for their data collection and comparison at mu- seums and kiln sites in Thailand. The research team from Cambodia was comprised of Dr. Nancy Beaven from the University of Otago in New Zealand and Tep Sokha from the ceramics conservation laboratory at the Royal University of Fine Arts in Cambodia who are responsible for research on the Cardamom Mountain burial sites and the Koh S’dech shipwreck in Koh Kong province, southwestern Cambodia. The other re- (Left to right) Atthasit Sukkham, Dr. Sharon Wang Wai Yee, search team includes Dr. Sharon Wong Wai Yee Veronica Walker-Vadillo, Dr. Nancy Beavan, Abhirada Komoot and Tep Sokha [left to right] visited the Bang Rachan (Mae from Hong Kong Polytechnic University in Hong Nam Noi) kiln sites in Singburi province. Kong, who is researching the various types of ceramics found at an archaeological site in Penny's Bay, Lantau Island, Hong Kong, China. For more information on this research, please contact Dr. Nancy Beaven at [email protected]. ac.nz, Tep Sokha at [email protected] and Dr. Sharon Wong Wai Yee at ccwwy@hkcc-polyu. edu.hk. page 4

CHINESE TEA CERAMICS IN THE BANGKOK NATIONAL MUSEUM by John J. Toomey photos by author, courtesy of the Fine Arts Department The Ceramics Gallery of the had evolved from the forms of Bangkok National Museum ewers and wine servers. The holds some good examples of literati of Song waxed strong on Chinese ceramic tea utensils the simplicity of the unglazed from ancient times, as well as purple clay for their spare from the reigns of the Chakri form and hand carving and Kings, especially Rama II, Mon- claimed that their special clay gkut, and , that enhanced the taste of the tea. help document the history of Pole-like handles were eventu- Fig. 2 Thais preferred gold or other their reigns. These kings com- ally inserted onto the sides of metallic fittings and three small feet on missioned porcelain sets for these servers to prevent burn- their Yixing steeped leaf tea as gifts to be ing the hands when removing distributed at cremations and the lids; but the drinking of leaf Famous teapots are found on other auspicious occasions. tea did not become popular at along with the finest inkstones But all the important tea pots that time, as whisked powdered and jade objects on any schol- are Yixing unglazed clay, con- tea was still in fashion at court. ar’s desk and are prized even sidered by tea connoisseurs to Eventually handled pots for above jade. While the history of make the best tea due to quali- leaf tea were produced for ev- Yixing-ware can be traced back ties in their clay. Other classi- eryday ware, and anyone was to 3000 BCE, it was only in the cal Chinese wares such as cela- allowed to use them, not just Ming dynasty that Yixing tea- don and tenmoku lie hidden in the imperial court, nobles, and pots took center stage. The lite- obscure corners of the gallery, literati. During the 16th C, while rati elite, who discovered Yixing, as well as one tiny, rare treasure the creative wabi-cha rustic tea located not far from the legend- of enameled porcelain. It is the ceramics were being generated ary city of Suzhou, went there purpose of this article to clear in Japan and Korea, China was in droves to enjoy the beautiful up some misunderstandings of undergoing its own tea ceram- scenery and partake in the pre- earlier scholarship, using the ics revolution. Toward the end mium tea grown there. The Yix- wisdom of Chinese tea practice of the Ming dynasty, with the ing was held up as “the and tradition. invention of better methods of ultimate tea-making utensil;” attaching handles to the side, and its clay was “more precious back or top of teapots for glazed than gold, or even jade.” Chi- porcelain at the kilns at Jing- nese tea connoisseurs believe dezhen, it was then possible to that the clay used to fire Yix- brew leaf tea in a porcelain pot ing ware interacts with chemi- more safely and conveniently. cals in the tea to produce the Exquisite porcelain cups, with most delicious and fragrant white interiors which showed pot of tea possible. Because it the pale green color of the is so soft and porous, handling translucent beverage, also de- unglazed pottery can be a very Fig. 1 Late Qing blue and veloped for the enjoyment of sensual experience; soft to the sets and Yixing teapots, with infused leaf tea. At Jingdezhen, touch, it is warmer and more in foreground during the Ming, there was a organic than any other kind of separate factory for Imperial teapot and it nestles comfort- During the the porcelain. Kilns produced both ably in one’s hands. tea leaf was powdered and imperial wares termed gong whisked into a froth directly yu and everyday wares called During the Qing dynasty the in the bowl without the use min yao. Later, during the Qing, unglazed purple clay Yixing of a teapot. At the end of the which favored opaque colors, pots became smaller, specifi- Song Dynasty there had been the color indicated rank, yellow cally for brewing tea. some successful experiments porcelain being reserved for The rule of thumb “red earth- in making handled teapots for Imperial ware only. enware pots for oolong, darker brewing leaf tea from unglazed pots for puerh, in por- zisha, purple sand clay. These celain or glass teapots” is com- page 5

lid to hold back the leaves, 2) mon today. But of course a true keeping the pot hot), one or two as a vessel for brewing the tea connoisseur has different stan- tea cups, and a large covered and then pouring the tea into dards. Most of the diminutive vessel which Prince Damrong smaller cups, and 3) as a vessel Yixing teapots in Thailand date Rajanubhab said has no func- for warming the teacups in hot to the 19th C; and during the tion but is merely decorative. water. reign of King Chulalongkorn, to commemorate the 110th an- niversary of the , Yixing teapots were imported to Thailand in 1892.

Fig. 6 Serving tea from the gaiwan

The misunderstanding may Fig. 4 Chinese cabbage motif on lai nam have arisen from a lack of thong ware, probably Rama II period (Chia Ching reign, 1796-1820) knowledge of actual tea prac- tice in a country where most Fig. 3 Enameled Chinese zodiacal ani- people might not want to drink As a tea practitioner with de- mal motif on gaiwan, probably Rama V hot liquids. Not actually having period (Kuang-hsu reign, 1875-1908) cades of study, I must beg to the chance to see the utensils differ regarding the large “deco- in actual use, but only as deco- rative” vessel for two reasons. rative/commemorative items It is easy to see the high qual- First of all, it is against the vir- from royalty, one could assume ity of the craftsmanship of the tues of simplicity and economy any number of misunderstand- splendid matched tea sets or- of tea that any utensil be purely ings when these tea sets even- dered from China by Thai roy- decorative. Each utensil must tually lost their function and alty, adorned with so many have a function. meaning and became display lovely patterns of bencharong sets, like “trophy cups”. thepanom, lai nam thong gold- leaf pak kannard Chinese kale Another vessel that was also or cabbage motifs, or the Chi- beautifully created in blue and nese zodiacal animal signs, and white, benchrong and lai nam other classical motifs in over- thong in China for Thailand is glaze enamels and classic blue often mislabeled as a tea pot. It and white. Many of the tea sets would, indeed, be quite difficult were ordered to be given as gifts to brew tea in this vessel due to at royal functions, such as cre- the lid being depressed into the mations. Some of these sets pot, which would necessitate are arranged on trays in a spe- burning one’s fingers or hand cial way which Prince Damrong when pouring the tea and also called the gee bo arrangement Fig. 5 Brewing tea in a gaiwan. Photo probably spilling tea as the lid (no complete gee bo is to be Tea master Dr. Jongrak Kittiworakam is not secured. I know because seen in the Bangkok National I experimented with this for Museum cases, though many Second, this utensil in Chinese years. This vessel is properly exist in monasteries and roy- tea has at least three functions, referred to as a cold water pot al homes in Bangkok and the which are 1) as a guijung or in auction catalogues and its provinces), always with a Yixing jung or gaiwan for brewing the true function is to refill the boil- teapot in a boat (a deep sau- tea and then drinking the tea ing tea kettle. The morphology cer-like vessel of hot water for directly from it while using the of this vessel conforms more to page 6 the shape of cold water carriers that we know in living Korean and Japanese tea practice.

Fig. 8 Chinese landscape elements blend with the kinaree motif in this lai Fig. 10 Song celadon bowls Fig. 7 Blue and white fresh water pot nam thong porcelain covered cup, period (1782-1809)

It is possible that the misun- There is also a black, tapering derstanding of the function of Song dynasty tenmoku teabowl these water carriers as well as which is much neglected but of the gaiwan might have arisen extremely important. At the because the brewing and serv- moment some piece of trash is ing of tea in Thailand was left lying in the center of it as it lies to servants; and perhaps the hidden at the bottom of a dusty elite did not visit the kitchen to cabinet near the entrance to observe the process, whereas the Ceramics Gallery. Chinese, Korean, and Japanese teamen brew and serve with their own hands and hearts in Fig. 11 Blue and white teacups the presence of the guests to show their special care for the guest as one of the philosophi- cal virtues of the Heart of the Way of Tea.

In one of the Bangkok National Museum’s cabinets of 19th cen- tury ceramics, near the Khmer ware, there is one of the mu- Fig. 9 Important tenmoku teabowl seum’s treasures. It is a small lies neglected covered tea cup of very delicate white porcelain, about two and There are many other Chi- a half inches tall, three inches nese tea cups, often in blue Fig. 12 Chinese celadon teabowls, (8 cm) including the lid, the and white, but there is also a gift of George Coedes motifs blending Chinese land- cabinet of good given scape with Thai kinaree in poly- by George Coedès, and there ...continue next page chrome enamel. It is possibly are some green glaze Song dy- from the reign of Rama I (1782- nasty celadon tea bowls. The 1809) and perches on the edge tenmoku, celadons, and green of an upper shelf in the center. glaze wares attest to Thailand’s Very exquisite, it is one of the long-time trade in Chinese an- treasures most often shown in tiquities. overseas catalogues. page 7

To understand why special utensils for tea were made as they were, one needs to understand a bit about tea history and the Heart of the Way of Tea. In practicing the Way of Chinese Tea, Cha Dao, one learns a way of life, just as one learns a way in the martial arts of kendo, judo, aikido, and even Zen. The same Chinese character Do or Dao forms the final syllable of these words. The inner cultivation of “Harmony, Purity, Respect, Tranquility, and Modesty” forms non-verbal bonds between host and guest which stretch far beyond the humble tea hut. This deep inner dynamic has raised the practice of the Way of Tea to such a level that Zen (Chinese, Ch’an) -based cultures recognize it as a form of enlightenment and spiritual fulfillment, as is often heard in the maxim, “Tea and Zen Have One and the Same Taste”.

SUKHOTHAI AND SI SATCHANALAI The details on artifacts which were religious beliefs of Thais at that CERAMICS: INSPIRATION AND illegally found at the Thai-Burma time. REALIZATION borders are based on the informa- tion of Asst.Prof. Sumitr Pitipat. In Hardback 242 pages, 300 x 245 AUTHOR : WONG-ON, THANYA- addition, brief information on re- mm, 300 colour ISBN 978-616- KARN search from Dr. Roxanna M. Brown 321-855-1 that she conducted in 2004 about This book has been written as a maritime trade and shipwrecks in result of his interest in Sawankha- neighboring countries, which pro- lok and Sukhothai ceramics. The vides clear evidence to precisely author would like to share his expe- date Sawankhalok and Sukhothai riences in the study and collection ceramics, is also included. Infor- of ancient Thai ceramics, over more mation on the usage of ceramics than ten years with readers and which is included, is based upon collectors. This included the iden- his extensive research, which pro- tification of real and fake ceramics, poses the use when the owner the background of Siam (now Thai- was alive as well as after he or land), and Thai ceramics are related she died. Buddhist votives tablets to each other in terms of cause and are also included, because most of effect. This book also contains ar- them were created from fired clay ticles from experts in Thai ceram- probably manufactured at the two ics, such as Dr. Dawn F. Rooney and important kilns, Ko Noi or Pa Yang Dr. Pariwat Thammapreechakorn. kilns, and they demonstrate the

The Southeast Asian Ceramics Museum Newsletter is inviting all members to submit articles for the Newsletter.

Please send your articles or comments and suggestions to the Newsletter Editor at [email protected]. Please take note that there will be no honoraria for articles published.

The Southeast Asian Ceramics Museum is still closed for repairs.