Ri Sanpei "Yi Sam-pyeong" Kiln
In the early 17th century, Korean craftsman Yi Sam-pyeong, or Ri Sanpei in Japanese, discovered porcelain ore in Izumiyama, Arita, Japan. This lead to the creation of the oldest porcelain in Japan, known today as Arita ware. Influenced by Chinese designs, its main style was sometsuke, "underglaze" characterized by simple and rustic designs. He also established Ri Sanpei Kiln, which later ceased operations. However, his 13th-generation descendant reopened it and continued to preserve this traditional ceramic craftsmanship.
400 years ago, Yi Sam-pyeong, a potter brought to Japan during Toyotomi Hideyoshi's invasion of Korea, became the leader of the potters. Upon discovering Izumiyama in Arita and successfully producing porcelain, he was given the Japanese name Kanagae Sanbee by the lord of the Nabeshima domain.
Over time, in the present day, Yi Sam-pyeong's 13th- generation descendant, Kanagae Yoshihito has revived early Imari ware, the oldest style of Arita ware, by studying the Izumiyama porcelain ore that was discovered by the first generation.
Reviving the lost techniques and styles of early Arita ware porcelain in today's world, Ri Sanpei Kiln's products have a unique style, with a simplicity and wabi-sabi feeling that sets them apart from other Arita ware. The balance between the bluish, translucent texture of the porcelain body and the beauty of the margins in the sometsuke painting will give the piece a remarkable presence in any contemporary dining space.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development" is a set of international goals for the period from 2016 to 2030, and Arita ware is committed to the SDGs in the hope of helping to solve the problems facing society by making pottery with an awareness of the "responsibility to create and use" among these goals.
Ri Sanpei Kiln considers it necessary to protect the global environment for future generations of craftsmanship as a kiln involved in an industry that has developed through the use of resources used to make products, including Izumiyama porcelain stone, which is a limited resource, the large amount of water used, and the huge amount of firewood used twice a year when the climbing kiln is used.
Unlike disposable plastics, these porcelain pieces can be treasured for generations, passed down as heirlooms to grandchildren and beyond. 14th-generation kiln master Kanagae Shohei believes that creating valuable pieces fosters a rich food culture while minimizing environmental impact.
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