Vintage Chinese Jian pottery cup #4785

- width: approx. 7.8cm (3 5⁄64in)

- height: approx. 4.6cm (1 13⁄16in)

- weight: 73g

Tenmoku is a kind of iron glaze. These tea bowls, made in the Jian kiln in China, were used at Mt. Tenmoku in Wenzhou City, China during the Sung dynasty (960-1279). Many Japanese Buddhists went to temple at Mt. tenmoku in order to learn Zen Buddhism during the Kamakura period (1185-1333). They took the tea bowls back to Japan when they returned. Many Japanese admired the bowl’s refined iron glaze, especially tea ceremony masters. The shapes are ideal for the tea ceremony. Before long variations emerged, for example Yohen-tenmoku, Yutei-tenmoku, Nogime-tenmoku, and Taihi-Tenmoku (Jizhou kiln tenmoku). Tenmoku bowls are usually put on a Tenmoku-dai (a board for tenmoku bowl's exclusive use) due to their small foot. After the tea ceremony artist Sen no Rikyu appeared, Japanese potters have developed enhanced Tenmoku bowls with a bigger foot made in order to put it them on tatami (straw-mat floors). It is thus more appropriate for the Japanese tea ceremony.