Seihakuiji 青白磁

Written on the tomobako is: 青白磁/Seihakuji 牡丹花/Botan-hana/peony flower 鉢/Hachi/bowl

Tsukamoto Kaiji was named a Bearer of Intangible Cultural Assets (a "Living National Treasure") in 1983 by the Japanese government. His exquisitely carved and glazed porcelains are based on Chinese prototypes, notably Ding and Qingbai wares of the Song Dynasty (960-1278).

 He was born in Taiji Village, Toki, in Gifu Prefecture, the region associated with Mino ware where his family has lived since the mid-17th century. Tsukamoto studied with the famous Mino potter Arakawa Toyozo (1894-1985) and was a life-long pupil of Koyama Fujio (1900-1975), a potter and scholar of Chinese ceramics.
The artist's white Ding and celadon Qingbai porcelains rival their historical predecessors. Delicately carved designs of peony, fanciful karakusa and leaves complement perfectly formed dishes and bowls. 



Tsukamoto Kaiji was fascinated with Song period hakuji and seihakuji porcelains and spent his life reviving that tradition. He received a Gold Medal at the 21st Century Exposition in California in 1964. In 1965 he was awarded at the 12th Nihon Dento Kogeiten National Traditional Crafts Exhibition, and was awarded again in 1967, the same year his work was exhibited at the worlds Expo in Montreal. He exhibited with the Nihon Togei Ten national Ceramic Exhibition from its inception in 1971. The following year he was once again awarded at the 19th Nihon Dento Kogeiten National Traditional Crafts Exhibition. He received the prestigious Japan Ceramic Society (JCS) award in 1979, and Japan-China Culture Award in 1980. In 1983 he was designed an Intangible Cultural Property (LNT) for seiji and seihakuji porcelain. Held in The National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo, The national Museum of Modern Art in Kyoto, The Museum of Oriental Ceramics in Osaka, Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum and Menard Art Museum among others. For more see Japanese Studio Crafts (1995) by R. Faulkner.

Pottery made by Tsukamoto Kaiji is marked with 快示/Kaiji on the piece itself and/or the box. If the piece or box is marked with 快山/Kaizan, the name of his kiln, then it is a kiln piece and not made by him.

See: Frederick Baekeland and Robert Moes, Modern Japanese Ceramics in American Collections (New York: Japan Society, Inc., 1993), pgs. 33, 47, 131.

For botan/peony in irezumi/tatoo art see: https://www.tattoodo.com/articles/the-imperial-peony-traditional-japanese-tattoos-of-botan-13402

For botan/peony in various Japanese arts see: https://www.treepeony.com/pages/peonies-in-japanese-art%20