On Pottery

Name: On Pottery
ISBN: 9787229136109

北大路鲁山人Chongqing Publishing House · ChinaJul 2020

4.3

Word count: 122K words
Chapters: 101
ISBN: 9787229136109

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Summary

This book is a collection of essays by the Japanese art master Kitaoji Rosanjin on the subject of ceramics. It includes pieces in which Rosanjin speaks from the perspective of a creator, such as "My Pottery Making" and "What I Learned from Building a Kiln"; essays written from the standpoint of a connoisseur, such as "Food and Vessels" and "Appreciating Pottery"; and introductions to Japanese ceramics, such as "Japanese Pottery," "Bizen Ware," and "The Value of Shino Ware." His vision is broad, and his writing moves from the simple to the profound, combining a high level of professional expertise with an approachable, accessible style, accompanied by abundant illustrations. Through this richly illustrated format, he leads readers into the wonderful world of ceramics. Those who, in daily life, understand what is beautiful and what is elegant, and who bring these qualities into their own lives, are inwardly rich even if they live in poverty. I want to make this world a little more beautiful, even if only by a little. My work is a small expression of that wish.

Editor's review

The Book of Pottery is no ordinary craft manual but the crystallized thought of Kitaoji Rosanjin, forged through a lifetime of aesthetic practice. This rare all-round artistic genius of modern Japan reconsiders ceramic art within the grand context of Eastern aesthetics, and what flows through his text is a persistent pursuit of "beauty in use" and a profound reflection on the spirit of craftsmanship. Rosanjin begins with the material foundations of pottery—clay, glaze, fire—yet always rises effortlessly to the level of philosophy and the aesthetics of living, discussing how vessels carry human emotion and the spirit of an age. His advocacy of "the beauty of imperfection" and his blurring of the boundary between the practical and the artistic amount not merely to an interpretation of ceramics but to a complete manifesto of living aesthetics. Compared with books that merely introduce techniques, the value of this book lies in the unique perspective it offers for seeing, understanding, and even creating "things"; its intellectual penetration is enough to inspire readers engaged in any creative work. Rosanjin's unruly personality and deep insight intertwine between the lines, making the reading experience at once like listening to a stern teacher and like engaging in a dialogue about beauty and existence.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers with a strong interest in Japanese aesthetics, the mingei movement, or Eastern design philosophy
Practitioners in ceramics, design, or artistic creation who wish to explore the essence and spiritual core of creation
Enthusiasts of tea ceremony, flower arrangement, and other living arts who seek a deep integration of objects and life
Contemplative readers who hope to draw universal philosophical reflection and life wisdom from concrete craft

Not a good fit for

Pure technical learners expecting step-by-step illustrated pottery-making instructions and detailed formulas
Readers seeking only light, casual reading who lack patience for more condensed and profound aesthetic discussion

Reading tips

It is recommended to combine reading with observing the everyday vessels at hand, trying to reexamine their form and function through the book's viewpoints
It can be read alongside Yanagi Sōetsu's The Way of Craft and other works related to the mingei movement to build a more complete map of modern Eastern aesthetics
Some chapters touching on history and technique may be skimmed, while focusing on savoring Rosanjin's personal aesthetic judgments and witty, sharp-edged essay passages

About the publisher

Chongqing Publishing House China · Founded in 1950

Chongqing Publishing House is a comprehensive publisher known for its titles in the humanities, social sciences, literature and arts, with about 940 books in its catalogue. Its publishing areas cover world history, science fiction, foreign literature, architecture and philosophy. Representative titles include Xiang Da's A History of Communications Between China and the West, Liang Sicheng's Rules of Qing-Style Construction, Liu Cixin's The Three-Body Problem II: The Dark Forest and III: Death's End, Ann Rand's The Fountainhead (25th Anniversary Edition), and Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive series. Its authors include Xiang Da, Liu Cixin, Liang Sicheng and Ann Rand. The press has developed distinctive strengths in historical source editing, the introduction and creation of science fiction, the translation of foreign literature, and architecture and philosophy titles, balancing scholarly value with general readership. As public information is limited, this profile outlines its publishing directions based only on the books in the catalogue.

版权信息
北大路鲁山人
星冈窑
因何立志制陶？
玩土
关于星冈窑
关于我的陶瓷器制作
筑窑之后的收获
余近来尝试陶瓷器制作的缘由
从我的制陶体验看前人
致有志于成为陶艺家的人——关于艺术中人和作系的关品
触动灵魂的美
所谓雅美
“直觉”的哲学
捡漏是诸病之源
艺美革新
关于陶瓷器鉴赏
料理与器皿
使用中国料理食器的日本料理
好的料理需要好的食器，好的料理要求有好的食器
日本的陶瓷
濑户·美浓濑户发掘杂感
古九谷观
古唐津
备前陶
关于黑濑户
关于织部陶
志野陶的价值
乾山的陶器
古器观集萃
宋赤绘盖罐
磁州窑鸡形砚滴
成化年制琥珀色小碗
明嘉靖年制赤绘小钵
古赤绘杯两种
明赤绘盛盏瓶
万历赤绘大水瓮
吴须水鸟火罐
关于高丽扁壶
古九谷赤绘罐
仿彩绘祥瑞古九谷盘
古九谷菖蒲图小盘
古唐津流动釉水罐
古唐津陶的美
与志野陶相似的唐津陶
濑户唐津茶碗
初期鼠志野长方形浅盘
美浓大平发掘的鼠志野大茶碗
鼠志野陶的制作方法
志野
花三岛茶碗
黄濑户茶叶罐
信乐水罐
仁清作蜻蛉火盘/仁清作莲叶灯油盘
仁清作肩蓑茶叶罐
光悦亲制赤乐云纹茶碗
乾山方形盘
乾山的画与陶
木米的世界
奥田颖川作吴须赤绘小钵
“明古青花”观
古青花的绘画以及纹饰
陶瓷器个展中所见各创作者的风格
观河井宽次郎先生个展
观河井宽次郎近作展有感
业余爱好者制陶不当筑窑——在制陶上曾经触怒了前山古吉先生的我的错
座边师友
青年啊，多多选择老师吧！
鲁山人作陶百影序
鲁山人家藏百选序
爱陶语录
制陶的热情
出身的好坏
向上之心
自戒
随机应变
以追求艺术为乐
所谓美的生活
关于鲁山人展目录的话
对自己的作品的一些话
关于第二次展出的自制陶瓷
关于拍卖所收藏陶瓷器的说明
对近作钵之会的一些话
最近的我
周游欧美之前在作品展示会上的发言
鲁山人回国后第一次展览会上的发言
在新泻展览会上的发言
鲁山人回国一周年陶瓷器作品展在金泽的思考
鲁山人陶瓷器作品展
鲁山人在第五十次个展纪念展上的感想
鲁山人备前陶作品个展
鲁山人会成立时我的人生
写在鲁山人陶瓷器作品集前
鲁山人陶瓷器作品集序
第五十二次鲁山人展
第五十三次鲁山人陶瓷器作品展
第五十四次鲁山人展
第五十五次鲁山人展
鲁山人雅陶展
译后记
北大路鲁山人年谱

FAQ

Can I understand this book without any pottery background?

Absolutely. The book's focus is not on teaching technique but on expounding aesthetic thought. Rosanjin embeds profound aesthetic ideas in concrete observation and experience using accessible language, so readers need no professional background to grasp his core ideas.

What is the main difference between this book and common pottery books?

The main difference lies in its purpose and depth. Most pottery books focus on "how to make," while the core of this book explores "why make" and "what is beauty." It is closer to a collection of philosophical essays, with ceramics serving as the vehicle and case study.

What is Kitaoji Rosanjin's standing in the Japanese art world?

Rosanjin is an important cultural figurehead of modern Japan, hailed as a "genius" and a "maverick talent." He was not only a ceramic artist but also a chef, calligrapher, painter, lacquer artist, and gourmet; his cross-disciplinary artistic practice and iconoclastic aesthetic convictions have had a profound influence on later generations.

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About the author

北大路鲁山人 Author

Kitaoji Rosanjin is a Japanese artist about whom relatively little biographical information is publicly available; even basic details such as his nationality and dates of birth and death are not confirmed in our records. Judging from the works at hand, his writing spans two broad fields, art and daily life: he discusses ceramics and calligraphy as well as the aesthetics of everyday living. Representative works such as "On Ceramics" and "Polishing Characters: The Calligraphy Way of Kitaoji Rosanjin, Japan's All-Round Artist" reflect his long engagement with objects and the way of the brush, while "Life Is About Doing Simple Things" and "My Life Cannot Do Without Beauty for a Single Day" use an essayistic style to bring aesthetic sensibility down to the details of food and daily routine. His prose is plain and approachable, combining a craftsman's experience with a literatus's taste, and often draws insights into beauty from concrete things, letting readers feel that art is not confined to the gallery but permeates every meal and every stroke of the pen. Four of his works are included in our collection, mostly grouped under essays and miscellaneous writings, art, and foreign literature.