SABUKAZE Foundation 5092, Ushimadochonagahama, Setouchi-shi, Okayama,JAPAN TEL/FAX：+81-869-34-5680 [email protected] Relation between Sabukaze kilns and the capitals Issued by Setouchi City Contents Written by KANEDA Akihiro Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties １.Kibi Region’s Famous Large Scale Remains of the Old Kilns 1 ２.Distribution of Ware 2 ３.History of Bizen-yaki Development 3 Introduction ４.Mokusui’s Big Achievements 4 ５.Designated as National Historic Site In Setouchi city and Bizen city located 5 in the Okayama prefecture, ６.Development of Research 6 western part of Japan, the previous excavations ７.Relation with Capitals uncovered archaeological sites of 130 Sue The Ancient Capitals and the Sue Ware Production in Bizen District 7 pottery production kilns. The kilns were used ONO Yoshihiro from 6th Century AD to 12th Century AD. They are Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties collectively called the Remains of the Old Kilns of Oku. Suzuri=Inkslab 9 Sabukaze kilns is situated at the southernmost point. JINNO Megumi It is said that the Sue ware (unglazed stone ware) of Oku Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties kilns, including Sabukaze kilns, was the root of Bizen ware How are Sue Ware Mortars Used ? 11 that is a popular local production even today. This booklet - A View from Ancient Cooking Tools Using Experiment introduces how Sabukaze kilns, the historic site designated MORIKAWA Minoru by the government, was found and preserved, as well as Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties the recent joint project of potters and archaeologists from Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties to replicate pottery technique and reproduce Sue pottery. The booklet will deepen your knowledge about the relation between Sabukaze kilns and the capitals of that time in Japan. 1 . Kibi Region’s Famous Large Scale Remains of the Old Kiln The Seto Inland Sea and the coast was addition to the Sue ware of traditional Kofun developed as a commercial area where period (fi fth century) types, the production of people have come and gone since ancient new types of pottery that imitated the shape times. of the bronze ware and ironware which Archaeological research discovered that there had been brought from China and Korea in was a steady fl ow of goods, information, and seventh century began. travelers. The significant change of ware form is They came from both domestic regions related to the change of table manners. and foreign countries far from Japan such Other interesting objects are tokan, suzuri, as the Chinese mainland and the Korean and shibi. peninsula. The tokan is coffi ns made of clay which were Not like traditional ware from the Jomon used to place in ancient tombs. period (14,000-300 BC), Sue ware is The suzuri is ink stone mortars for the unglazed stoneware. It was baked in a kiln. grinding and containment of ink. This tells 2 . Distribution of Pottery Based on this new production technique and us the existence of educated people who its characteristics of early age products, it is could write letters such as government In the 24th volume regarding tax before the Heian period. considered that the makers and techniques offi cers. of a register of imperial laws and It is becoming clear that ware from here of Sue ware had been brought to Japan from The shibi was used for roof decorations of regulations called the Engishiki have been distributed widely since the the Korean peninsula. temples. regulated in the 10th century (Heian seventh century when Sabukaze kilns The production of Sue pottery started in the This age was a major turning point: period), the detail of tax owed by each were actively operated. Kofun period (end of fourth to early fifth previously clans displayed their wealth and region is described. Characteristically, the ware made here century) and mainly developed at Suemura power by building tombs, but in this age, Cho is the tax posed on males, and the was beautiful and sturdy, turning a kilns (Osaka prefecture). they shifted to build temples instead. specialties of each region were specified blue-grey when fired and finished with In the eastern area of Kibi (current It was during this time that ware in there. a natural green glaze. Okayama prefecture), Sue ware started its representing both new and old culture was Bizen-no-kuni, where Sabukaze kilns Widely distributed Sue ware reveals production in the end of fourth century to produced at this Sabukaze kilns. was located, was directed to pay Cho a part of daily life of people in ancient the beginning of fifth century; however, it One of the production sites is Sabukaze by Sue ware together with other seven times, and the subtle difference of forms was considered to be small scale. kilns, which used to support the daily life of regions: Settsu, Izumi, Ohmi, Minoh, enable us to know which type was used In the Oku area, Kinabeyama No.1 ancient people by producing a variety of ware Harima, Sanuki, and Chikuzen. in which period. kiln started production in the mid-sixth from dailyware to special items used for All were large scale ware production The fact found by the researches century. Since then, the production volume tombs and temples during the period when sites. also supports to uncover the age of gradually increased, and the region became the center of Japan isles was influenced by The analyses of excavated Sue pottery abandoned objects. a large-scale Sue ware production area, Chinese mainland. During this time the king showed that ware produced at the As described above, the researches of called Oku kilns, in the seventh century. (later the emperor) based in Yamato (current Remains of the Old Kilns of Oku were Sue ware from Sabukaze kilns provide A representative kiln group in Oku is Nara prefecture, central part of Japan) used in Bizen region as well as the us with a hint to know the history of Sabukaze kilns. moved on to establish a country ruled and Asuka region where the capital was Oku and Bizen and extremely profitable During the period when production at managed by laws. located, Naniwa palace site, Fujiwara information to examine the history of Sabukaze kilns became more active, in palace site, and Heijo palace site even Japan as well as the world. 1 2 4 . Mokusui’s Big Achievements It must be noted that steady efforts have been made by local researchers when we describe the research and preservation of Sabukaze Koyo Sekigun. Particularly Waichi Tokizane (1896-1993)’s effort is worthy of special mention. Tokizane was born and grown in the village of Nagahama (currently known as part of Ushimado area in Setouchi City). From the time he was very young, he was interested in pieces of Sue ware in Sabukaze and started gathering them. He also visited Sabukaze and other ruins of kilns in Oku to gather more pottery. 3 . History of Bizen Ware Development In several tens of thousands of Tokizane’s data and objects collection, he has diligently written Most of the production sites of Sue ware city), a little northeasterly area from there. date of discovery, the lot number, depth where goods were actively produced from the The production of tableware declined and from the ground surface, and so forth of each Kofun period to the early Heian period (mid different items such as jars and mortars object he has unearthed, thus enhancing the third century to twelfth century) fell into a began to be produced more. academic nature of his documents. decline after the middle of Heian period. After the 12th century (the Heian Period), He posted his research papers in the academic Among those, only production sites having kilns eventually concentrated around Inbe magazine “Kibi Koko” and published a favorable conditions survived and continued area (Bizen city) and the major color of document collection “Okunokamaato” to build production when they adapted in accordance pale or blue gray Sue ware changed to dark the foundation of Sue pottery research in Bizen with the times. brown. region. Sue ware production in Sabukaze kilns area This is how the Bizen pottery was Tokizane’s artist name was Mokusui, and was already discontinued; however, the accomplished. The revival of Bizen pottery he was called “Mokusui-san” with respect. A tradition of pottery is still alive. as a high-quality item spread around statue of him made in Bizen ware was erected The craftsperson of Oku transferred their Japan and is to this day popular and widely in the garden of the Sabukaze Art Gallery to working center from Ushimado area where used and is one of Japan’s representative honor his achievements and in gratitude for Artist: Hikaru Shimamura Sabukaze kilns is located to Sayama (Bizen potteries. his life-long efforts. (Preserver of Important Intangible Cultural Properties Okayama Prefecture) 3 4 5 . Designated as National Historic Site 6 . Development of Research Tokizane excavated dump fields of so- magnetic abnormality due to soil Thanks to accumulated research results fl uorescence spectrometers which analyze called No.1 remain of kilns, where junk magnetized by high temperature. over a long period, Sabukaze started minor elements of clay. such as failed objects, kiln walls, and ash This investigation pointed out the gathering attention as an important In 2002, an explanatory booklet about was abandoned in 1929.Furthermore, possibility of four kilns underground. Sue ware supply area and comparative Sabukaze kilns were published. he researched the stone chamber in Partial excavation proved that they research of potteries with one found in old From 2004, fact-check research was Sabukaze tomb in 1935 and found that actually exist.