Also known as Inaba Tenmoku
Masterpiece
National Treasure
Collection: Seikado
Height: 6.8 cm
Mouth diameter: 12.0 cm
Footring outer diameter: 3.8 cm
Footring height: 0.5 cm
Generally known as the Inaba Tenmoku, this is a renowned bowl that can be described as the “king of Tenmoku” and the “crown jewel” among Yohen Tenmoku.
The form is a classic Jianzhan shape, giving the piece an overall sense of compactness; in particular, the footring is crafted with unparalleled precision. The interior of the footring has been shallowly and evenly carved to create a snake-eye pattern, and with not a hint of warping, it is immediately clear that this is a truly exceptional masterpiece. The body has a relatively fine grain, is densely fired, and features a dark, ashy-gray color with a subdued luster.
The interior and exterior are generously coated with a glossy black glaze; the glaze has run along the rim, taking on a grayish hue, and thick pools of glaze are visible at the base and rim—all typical features of a Jian ware bowl. The entire interior surface is irregularly dotted with round spots of varying sizes known as “star patterns,” and around them, sparkling rays of light flicker like a dream, transforming the lustrous black glaze into a dazzling spectacle. This is the so-called “yōhen” phenomenon, which corresponds well with the description in the Kuntai-kan Sōyōchōki: “There are stars of deep lapis lazuli and pale lapis lazuli.” The star-like patterns densely floating within a broad, bluish-white ring of radiance near the center are particularly mysterious and evocative. The exterior is generally jet black, but blue-glowing mottled patterns can be seen in several places.
Kazuo Yamazaki has conducted detailed research on this yohen phenomenon. According to his findings, it is presumed to be caused by clusters of microscopic crystals and an extremely thin film—measuring one ten-thousandth of a millimeter—formed on the glaze surface; however, the exact composition of these components remains entirely unknown.
This tea bowl has been passed down through the Inaba family of Yodo, whose members held high-ranking positions in the shogunate for generations from the Genna and Kan’ei periods onward; the name “Inaba Tenmoku” derives from this lineage. The entry in Ganka Meibutsu-ki reading “Yōhen Inaba Mino-dono” and the entry in Kokin Meibutsu Ruiju reading “Yōhen Inaba Mino-no-kami” refer precisely to this tea bowl. There are no clues regarding its provenance prior to this, but it is said that it may have been an imperial item from the Imperial Household Agency that was subsequently bestowed upon the Inaba family.
After the Meiji Restoration, it was kept in the Inaba family’s private collection, but in 1918 (Taisho 7), it left the family and entered the collection of Mr. Tetsuro Ono. The fact that it fetched a record-breaking price of 168,000 yen at the time of its auction has long been the stuff of legend. It subsequently passed to the Iwasaki family and was transferred from them to the Seikado Bunko Library, where it remains today.
Bag: White-ground large arabesque pattern satin
Gold-ground double vine and gold lattice
Inner box: Shunkei lacquer with paper label reading “Yōhen”
Outer box: Black lacquer with blue mother-of-pearl lettering reading “Yōhen”
Tenmoku stand: Black lacquer Amagasaki stand with Shinyu rim
It was designated a National Treasure in June 1951.
(Hasebe Rakuji)
