tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-214141237152702131.post8730212313070278571..comments2021-07-27T07:39:37.462-04:00Comments on Dawan, Chawan, Chassabal: Comments From a New PotterCho Hakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04798639210955177212noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-214141237152702131.post-79011915061373530542011-06-05T10:03:20.790-04:002011-06-05T10:03:20.790-04:00An important thing a beginner should remember is t...An important thing a beginner should remember is that they are not a master. (like a duck moving smoothly across the pond, you do not see how furiously the ducks legs are working.) To develop skill, working from a model, even if you make it yourself, and using a measuring gauge, is a way to develop skill. Otherwise, you let every mistake dictate the progress of the bowl. Because you don't have a master to look at your bowls, the gauge will help you. Don't let the bowls be too precious: make 100 and recycle all but the best 10. Or only the best one. If you keep at it, you can someday work like the masters.Togeikahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03718418401458480928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-214141237152702131.post-39169242870965699472011-02-15T13:55:55.448-05:002011-02-15T13:55:55.448-05:00Incidentally, when we dialogue like this we are ju...Incidentally, when we dialogue like this we are just sharing opinions. There is not, nor should their be even the thought of ‘arrogance’. I don’t think of my answers as being ‘right’ just that they express what I am thinking at the time. I don’t think of this blog as providing answers because I am still trying to determine what the questions should be. <br />So unless you feel arrogant you are not arrogant and I certainly don’t see or feel your comments are arrogant in any way and hope you feel the same about mine.Cho Hakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04798639210955177212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-214141237152702131.post-72401528237002060532011-02-15T13:53:51.894-05:002011-02-15T13:53:51.894-05:00Hi again Greg,
I thought is would reply here to pa...Hi again Greg,<br />I thought is would reply here to part of your comment and then perhaps address that other part in a post. My ‘shortcut’ explanations are catching up with me and I should try to be more precise. Your wife is correct in what she is saying. However, a little more should be said. Buncheong precisely translated means two different things that use the same Chinese character. One is white slip decoration or white powder decoration used on ceramics and the other an actress’s makeup as opposed to hwacheong or ladies makeup. “Bun” refers to white powder and “cheong” in this case refers to ‘decoration’ or ‘makeup’. Buncheong is a shortened version for a longer term buncheong hurchung saggi (perhaps more phonetically “bunjang hurhchung saggee” or something like that in our rough Anglicized version. The Korean language is much more precise phonetically. “Saggi” means ceramics as in ‘saggijang’. Note there are two similar looking and similar sounding yet different words used. They are ‘cheong’ and ‘chung’. I’m sorry I don’t have Chinese characters on my keyboard so we have to go with this very poor explanation of the differences. As noted they sound very similar and Anglicized often look the same. ‘Cheong’ means decoration or makeup and ‘chung’ is blue. Hurchung is the ‘grey blue’ caused by reduction in the kiln. That might be confused with blue but not blue glaze. You are correct. In my imprecise haste I dropped the explanation on the word ‘cheong’ meaning decoration in the term buncheong. I’ll try to be a little more precise.Cho Hakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04798639210955177212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-214141237152702131.post-13010428694204347632011-02-15T12:10:25.487-05:002011-02-15T12:10:25.487-05:00Hi Greg,
Thanks for you comment and no it is not s...Hi Greg,<br />Thanks for you comment and no it is not snooty nor arrogant. My post above was directed to a beginning teabowl artist so it leaned a little to the 'mind' side of forming a teabowl. I tried to find your email address so that I could ask you a question. I would like to use your comment as the basis for a longer post. I know I could do that without asking but I wanted to ask first. Then I will reply to the many issues you raise in this great comment. just go to my profile and email me. Thanks.Cho Hakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04798639210955177212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-214141237152702131.post-35711553780797085702011-02-14T17:01:49.181-05:002011-02-14T17:01:49.181-05:00Dear Cho Hak;
Regarding the Matsudaira bowl and b...Dear Cho Hak;<br /> Regarding the Matsudaira bowl and bunchong in general, I think you translated 'bunchong' as meaning 'powder'.My wife Soyoo translated it for me this way; bun refers to powder as in a woman's face powder and 'chung' is blue.After looking at hundreds of bunchong pots in museums I believe that the blue refers to the glaze used over the white slip.The glaze is clear where thin but actually has a blue green tint, almosr like celadon, where it's thick.<br />Regarding how to make good teabowls,I think you need the state of mind'mu-shin' ,no-mind wherein the pots 'make themselves'.I find that my favorite bowls are usually the ones that I don't remember making.Hope I don't sound too snooty or arrogant. <br />Hope to see you in Korea sometime.<br /> Regards, Greg CUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01093179105428633641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-214141237152702131.post-80250977267903385762010-11-26T16:05:27.872-05:002010-11-26T16:05:27.872-05:00Thanks for your comment Gordon. I have made bowls...Thanks for your comment Gordon. I have made bowls the size of the Kizaemon and that size is large enough for me. <br />Lately I have been working on some larger chatchan some almost border on small chawan. I'm making them because sometimes I just want to sit, relax and drink some tea and think some others will agree with me. The small cups are great but for me seem more appropriate for sharing tea in a little more formal context or if that ritual is important for you personally to enjoy your tea. These larger cups are more for personal contemplation. Some connoisseurs will look at them and say they are too small for mattcha - perhaps they are. They are not made for mattcha. Then they will go on to say the new larger chatchan are too large for nokcha and other infused teas. But I don't think so. For me size is important for formal situations but sitting by yourself or with a couple of friends drinking some tea isn't the place for too much formality. Make tea and drink it.Cho Hakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04798639210955177212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-214141237152702131.post-91037668062895315872010-11-11T20:49:02.789-05:002010-11-11T20:49:02.789-05:00I think you are right on the size of the teabowls ...I think you are right on the size of the teabowls should fit a person hands of today. In the past a person hands were smaller hence the teabowl size like the Kizaemon Ido was to their human scale. If we use the size of a past teabowl measurement to make teabowl today , the teabowl would be out of place. yes your message is not to be a slave to fix measurement, but use it when it is needed.<br /><br />THANKS for your insight. <br /><br />Gordon C WongUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07066479827912408375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-214141237152702131.post-25839536423752840132010-03-15T01:29:51.302-04:002010-03-15T01:29:51.302-04:00the making of tea bowls, for me is a meditative pr...the making of tea bowls, for me is a meditative process. It is a sclose to ritual as I get! There is just something about throwing bowls off the hump, they just feel right, and I always end the session feeling more peaceful and centered than when I began.I don't throw often, mostly I hand build. But I love throwing teabowls.Lizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14171996698927828247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-214141237152702131.post-45302843382420135352010-02-15T11:31:20.359-05:002010-02-15T11:31:20.359-05:00After reading my first attempt at this post again,...After reading my first attempt at this post again, I decided to try to clarify some points.Cho Hakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04798639210955177212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-214141237152702131.post-73393664489134036252010-02-14T08:58:40.688-05:002010-02-14T08:58:40.688-05:00Thanks so much for your help! I will keep you pos...Thanks so much for your help! I will keep you posted on my efforts.<br /><br />AngelaAngela Rogershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08965116652023058618noreply@blogger.com