Also written 茶盗.
1 A generic term for ceramic wares called tōjiki 陶磁器 from the 9th to 16th century. Initially used for tea drinking and considerably later for rice.
2 A ceramic bowl used for drinking tea at a tea ceremony. Japanese chawan are most frequently used but those imported from China and Korea are also favored. The tea bowls imported from China are called *karamono 唐物 (to referring to the Tang dynasty). Korean bowls are called kōrai chawan 高麗茶碗 and Japanese tea bowls are called *kuniyaki 国焼, meaning domestically fired.
The type of chawan used depends on whether the ceremony is formal shin 真, semi-formal gyō 行, or informal sō 草. See *shin-gyō-sō 真行草. One of the most formal chawan, used since ancient times, is a tenmoku bowl *tenmoku jawan 天目茶碗 which has a unique shape: a wide top and a special oil-spot glaze of Chinese lineage. Today, it is used only when accompanied by a large portable shelf *daisu 台子, and a wooden saucer called *tenmokudai 天目台. In Japan, however, chawan of plainer design and irregular shape are appreciated more than those with such perfect forms, especially at a simple, quiet tea ceremony. Thus, many domestic tea bowls came into use in the late 16th century. Their type and design are extremely diverse, and made even more so by the preferences of tea masters. In general, a bowl shaped for easy drinking is most appreciated. The average size is 15 cm in diameter at the rim and about 8 cm high. In the summer, a shorter bowl is favored, while in winter, a barrel-shaped bowl about 10 cm in diameter at the rim.
Aside from the tenmoku type introduced in the Muromachi period, and one of Korean lineage which was a deep bowl called idojawan 井戸茶碗, the most popular bowl was a domestic type called *rakuyaki 楽焼. It appears to have been introduced by Sen no Rikyu 千利休 (1502-91). Generally, tea bowls are appreciated for the shape of the rim, kuchi-zukuri 口造, the inside of the bowl, mikomi 見込, the body of the bowl, dō 胴, and the foot, kōdai 高台. By the mid-18th century, a middle grade of green tea called sencha 煎茶 gained in popularity and smaller sized tea bowls came into use.
