(1516-?1592) is distinguished as the first generation in the
Raku family line of potters. According to historical documents he was the son of one Ameya, who is said to have emigrated to Japan from Korea (or possibly Ming China, as asserted on the RAKU WARE website (link below) of the still active line of potters founded by Chojiro). Historical evidence shows that he produced ridge tiles for
Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Jurakudai palace in 1574. There is a historical document reporting that in 1584, Toyotomi Hideyoshi presented him with a seal inscribed with the character 楽, ''raku'', and with this "Raku" was adopted as the family name. He worked at one time for
Sen no Rikyū, the master of
tea, at whose request he created teabowls to be used in
chanoyu, the Japanese tea ceremony. Extant records of the use, at the time, of the tea bowls that he produced for Rikyū describe them as "tea bowls of the Sōeki form", Sōeki being the name that Rikyū was then generally known by.
[''Rikyū Daijiten'', Japanese "Rikyū Encyclopedia", Tankosha 1989, , entry for Chōjirō.] The bowls attracted attention for their beauty and refinement. Chōjirō produced bowls that were either entirely red or entirely black glazed soft pottery, simple and without decoration, which were meant to reflect ''
wabi'' ideals.
Chōjirō's adopted son, Jōkei, followed in his father's footsteps, and was allowed to append the term ''raku'' to his name in recognition of his talents. This marked the beginning of the use of the style in Japanese
pottery.
References
External links
Official homepage of the Raku family and its ceramic traditionAn entry on Tanaka Chojiro from the Encyclopædia Britannica
Japanese potters
1592 deaths
Year of birth unknown
{{Japan-artist-stub