monumental, monolithic, and impressive | Otagaki Rengetsu

An ambiguous tea bowl.

It is monumental, monolithic, and impressive but when you get closer there is more. This bowl is also fragile, shy and reclusive. Rengetsu delicately finger-pinched the body of this bowl, and subtly brushed the poem as well as the pine decoration in dark brown paint on light brown clay. And as if done on purpose the old gold lacquer repairs (kintsugi) underline the humble tones of this great piece. 

In the future
happiness
and long life – 
two sprouting leaves
to grow a thousand years.

Otagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875)