The Teabowl and the Blues

摘要

In English we use the term 'teabowl' to encompass the Japanese chawan (teabowl), the smaller unomi (teacup, also written yunomi) and even the smaller still gyunomi (for sake). It is a useful shorthand for one of the most popular ceramic forms. During the past few decades the teabowl - both the word and the form -has become universal and far removed from its origins, in much the same way that the blues has become an international musical language. Few living musicians have spent time in the cotton fields, yet from its origins in the segregated and impoverished southern USA the blues has been played throughout the world, even by potters attending the ceramic fair at Hatfield. The music created within the blues structure is hugely varied - Robert Johnson, John Coltrane, Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton have all used the same chord sequences. Perhaps it is the endless harmonic possibilities emanating from a seemingly simple and accessible format that has captivated people from (probably) all cultures.