The story is told that travelers would take the sacred sands from under the Itsukushima shrine when they left on a trip, they would take some sands from the place they visited and mix it and bring it back to the shrine. It became a way of wishing one safe travels or for new beginnings.
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| Set of cups (meoto) with maple leaf design. |
OSUNA-YAKI
Osuna-yaki is pottery of Miyajima. It traditionally used sand from the shrine. I found this lovely sencha set by Kawahara Tosai at a charity shop.
Just as you arrive at Miyajima you see the Kawahara Tosai store which I believe was established in Showa 14. The set does not appear to have been used and is in pristine condition. The box is an old style box and has worn with age.
Nine piece sensha set.
ITSUKAKU YAKI (一角焼)
Itsukaku Yaki was pottery of the Itsukushima Shrine. The sands around the shrine were used to make carved pottery with the shrine and tori gate. It is most often referenced with other 3D wares on the Internet under Banko. Banko ware is not the only ware that used this carved 3D technique. In fact you'll find it in Tobe porcelain, Akita and in a few other areas in Japan. It is no longer made on Miyajima and I was hard-pressed to find anything about it on the Internet. It just disappeared.
The ones made on Miyajima made ware specifically use the tori, shrine and mountain motif. They usually will have written in Japanese sousho script Itsukushima Jinja (厳島神社) on them. I want to thank a follower, Gerry, who first brought this type of pottery to my attention a couple of years ago. Since then I have finally found my own little vase to share with you.
