Every utensil used in the Japanese tea ceremony is dedicated to a specific purpose and has a significant meaning. Before a host chooses the utensils for the ceremony, each one goes through a spirtual and peaceful process of creation. As the Japanese create the utensils, they handle each with equal amount of care and decoration because it is believed that not only people should be treated as equal, but so should important things in the world (Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History). Many Japanese often made bowls and kettles out of ceramics and spoons and whisks out of wood (Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History). Few of the utensils in the ceremony were made out of bamboo because this material was considered ceremonial and was used in certain seasons and times of day (Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History). All of the utensils made from ceramics were never glazed because they were first intended as industrial vessels or tools for farmers; the Japanese wanted to keep the significance of agriculture. (Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History). Soon, kilns became very popular in Shigaraki and Bien, which introduced new shapes specidically designed for the tea ceremony utensils (Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History). Japanese were able to predict the final outcome of a piece in a kiln due to this technological improvement (Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History). In each utensil, skill was demonstrated in all levels of decoration (Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History). There was a significant contrast between every utensil, in which really highlighted the unique beauty of each tool (Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History).
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