After my recent research of Kutani, it gives me great pleasure to add to my own confusion. A few years ago, when I did my first research, there wasn’t a whole lot on the internet about Kutani. This time, I was glad to see much more. I even found a site with a document written in the 1940’s when a few people were first beginning to do some excavations into the old kiln sites. The articles written about the history at that time and the more recent ones are somewhat different. So, read on, and you will see why the history of Kutani is very interesting and why knowing it just adds to interest in collecting Japanese items.
The document written in the 40’s divides the categories up much differently than the recent articles. I guess it is because they were just beginning to unravel all the mystery. Now, they are dividing mainly into two different periods, Ko-Kutani and Kutani. Ko-Kutani wares were made from 1655 through 1730 and the Kutani period started around 1806. There is no end date for the Kutani period because they are still being made. These dates
are just approximations and there is no actual proof! Most of the old kiln sites are in ruins, but there are a few that are still in operation today. In fact, the old village of Kutani was destroyed in 1970 from the floodwaters of a dam.
There were kilns throughout Japan and 47 kiln sites have been discovered around the city of Shigaraki alone, with an estimated 50 or so more possible sites. But, this page in the blog is pertaining to what is referred to as Kutani.
(The history of Japanese wares (some are calling ceramics) begins with the Jomon Earthenware. The term ‘Jomon’ means ‘cord-markled pottery’ and is said to be the oldest earthenware in the world. The excavation of the Omori Kaizuka shell mound revealed earthernware to be approximately 12,000 years old (when radiocarbon dated). It is believed that this earthenware was produced over a 10,000 year period.)
You also have to realize that at the earlier Kutani were named according to the district where they were made (Kaga Kutani, Nomi Kutani, and Enuma Kutani), but during the Meiji restoration they became simply known as Kutani no matter where they were made.
The first kiln to be mentioned during the Ko-Kutani period was the Suizaka Kiln (1605-1700). I am not exactly sure why it is included except for the fact that it was in operation during part of the same period of time as the old Ko-Kutani kiln (1655-1730). The white stone used to make Kutani porcelain wasn’t discovered until 1647, in the Kutani gold mines. Suizaka was a long way from the village of Kutani, and why would they have this kiln listed as a Ko-Kutani kiln when the stone wasn’t discovered until 47 years after it was built?
I will fill you in on what I have read about the Suizaka Kiln anyway since it has some very interesting history and definitely is a connection… Suizaka is a village between Daishoji and Yamashiro in the Enuma Kutani District in the Ishiwawa Prefecture. It wasn’t known as the Enuma Kutani District until later, but I am just saying that so you will get an idea of its location. This area was the domain of a Samurai by the name of Yamaguchi Munenaga. He went to Korea during the Japanese-Korean War and brought back a Korean potter. Munenaga was a collector of ceramics and did the whole tea ceremony thing. That is probably why he brought the Koran potter back with him in the first place. The potter then started the kiln in Suizaka. What is weird is that the kiln was started in 1605, but Yamaguchi Munenaga was killed by Maeda Toshinaga, of the Maeda Clan, in 1600. So, by the time the kiln was built, it was under the control of the Maeda Clan.
Now, let’s move to the kiln that was built in the village of Kutani. The kiln that started this whole Kutani name in the first place which leads us to another confusing point! Maeda Toshitsune was the 3rd Lord of Kaga, one of the most powerful Hans (districts) in Japan. He was ALSO a collector of ceramics and of art and he was also a participant in the tea ceremonies. It seems to me that this whole ceramic, porcelain, pottery business is built around the tea ceremonies
Now, he had already opened a purchasing office for his Han in Nagasaki (on the island of Kyushu in the Nagasaki Prefecture) in 1637 and was importing ceramics and other goods to Kaga Han.
Now, before I go any farther, let me explain a few things that may help to understand…
-The Maeda Clan was one of the most powerful families in Japan. Don’t ask me to list all of Toshitsunes brothers or you will really be confused (All seven of their names begin with ‘T’). One other interesting point is that I think their last name is first and their first name is last, which only leads to more confusion!
-HIS BROTHER, Maeda Toshinaga, is the one that killed Yamaguchi Munenaga. What is really weird is that Toshinaga had no sons, so he adopted Toshitsune!!!
-Don’t confuse the village of Kaga with the Kaga Han. I don’t think they are the same thing…. Although…
STILL MORE TO COME!!!
