Celebration of Mingei - Journey Through Japan

Maneki Neko / The Japanese Beckoning Cat

Maneki Neko / The Japanese Beckoning Cat

There has been an increase recently in Japan in the number of people who have cats and their related items. It is said to be a boom for collectors of this type of craft. However, way before this re...

The Craft of the Japanese Bako / A Box Needs a Purpose

The Craft of the Japanese Bako / A Box Needs a Purpose

The Box Firstly, in Japan, the box carries great importance, and is treasured and not to be thrown away. Wrapping and boxing in Japan is a very serious business. The box for most artwork is a work ...

The Scholar’s Calligraphy Tools / Brush Pot, Brush Washer, Inkstone, and Brush

The Scholar’s Calligraphy Tools / Brush Pot, Brush Washer, Inkstone, and Brush

Historically, most of the Japanese scholars, who were highly educated male calligraphers, practiced the art of ink painting, an early form of brush painting that only used black ink in different co...

Chinese Shiwan Art Pottery / Folklore and Artistry

Chinese Shiwan Art Pottery / Folklore and Artistry

Importance and Poetic Appreciation Chinese Shiwan Ware Shiwan Art Pottery, also known as Shekwan ware, is an important part of the Chinese traditional culture. Ceramic wares have a long history ...

Kogo / Incense Containers Open the Atmospheric Paths of Creativity & Socialization

Kogo / Incense Containers Open the Atmospheric Paths of Creativity & Socialization

Kogo is a Buddhist tea and altar accessory, refers to a small, lidded container for incense, which is placed in the Kogo before making tea, in order to burn incense in a hearth when preparing the ...

Buddha Artisanal Monks Japan

Buddhist Monk Craftsmen / In Service of the Temple

Monks not only preside over the important events in a person's life but work to support the temple for which they are associated. Since the earliest times of Buddhism, the Buddhist monk has played...