Description
This large, cylindrical tea bowl was used for drinking powdered green tea. The unique colors and textures of the ground can be glimpsed through the semi-transparent white glaze. It is also decorated with free, unrestrained drawings of a bridge and a simple hut with thatched roof. This is why it is known as 'Hashihime,' which translates as 'Bridge Maiden.'
When viewed from the side, the bowl appears short and stout, with the base wider than the body, while the mouth presents a warped elliptical shape when viewed from above. The best way to appreciate a tea bowl is to imagine taking it in your hands and drinking from it. With its grand size and warped mouth, this rugged bowl must feel quite hefty and perhaps it would be difficult to drink from. Its production dates from the Azuchi-Momoyama period to the start of Edo period. This was a time when tea ceremonies were popular among the warrior class. The powerful, unconstrained shape probably reflects the aesthetic sensibilities of that time.
Data source
ColBase
"ColBase: Integrated Collections Database of the National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, Japan" is a service that enables a multi-database search of the collections in the four national museums (To...
Contents holder/Provider
Aggregator
National Institutes for Cultural Heritage
The National Institutes for Cultural Heritage (NICH) comprise four National Museums (Tokyo National Museum, Kyoto National Museum, Nara National Museum, and Kyushu National Museum) and two National Research Institutes for Cultural Properties (Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, and Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties), as well as the International Research Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region (IRCI) in Sakai City, for a total of seven institutions.
Last updated
April 13, 2026