Zen chawan Phoenix Appears by Matsunaga Gōzan and Imai Masayuki
$550.00
This important Zen tea bowl named “Phoenix Appears” (Hōōrai 鳳来) is a collaboration between the famous Kyoto potter Imai Masayuki 今井 政之 (1930-2023) and the equally well known Zen monk Matsunaga Gōzan 松長剛山 (b. 1943), Abbot of Kōtō-in, a subtemple of Daitoku-ji since 1971 and the 13th titular head of Hisada-ryu Arisugawa-kei school of tea. The chawan was made in the early 1970s, shortly after he ascended to abbotship of Kōtō-in. The chawan is earthenware with iron oxide underglaze decoration, and is in perfect condition. It is 8 cm high and 11.8 cm in diameter.
Ceramic pieces decorated by Zen monks are rare, and such collaborations are usually between monks and potters who are their friends or parishioners, most of them not as famous as Imai Masayuki. Masayuki also collaborated with other Zen monks, most notably Takeda Ekishū.
The piece comes in a tomobako, signed by the potter, and was named by Gōzan. A transcription of box inscription will accompany Certificate of Authenticity.
Imai Masayuki 今井政之 (1930-2023) was born in Osaka, and had studied pottery under 楠部彌弌 Kusube Yaichi (1897-1984) in Kyoto, where he made his home after finishing studies. He was often seen at various ceramic and craft exhibits in Japan, including the Nitten, where he received the Hokuto Award. He won the prestigious Japan Ceramic Society award in 1965, as well as the grand prize at International Biennale of Contemporary Ceramics. He was awarded Order of Culture in November of 2018, one of the most prestigious awards bestowed by Japanese Government, along with being designated a Living National Treasure (Holder of Intangible Cultural Properties). He is featured in many books in English and Japanese.
