noborigama 登窯

Bank or climbing kiln. Built on a slope, this efficient type of kiln originated in China and was introduced to Japan from Korea in the early 17th century. These multi-chamber kilns, featuring as many as twenty or more chambers, had a much larger capacity than earlier kilns and allowed for the regulation of heat requisite for simultaneous firing of different types of wares. A wood fire, fed through a fuel hole at the base of the kiln, bakes the pots stacked on a raised perforated floor; an opening at the side of each chamber lets out smoke. Noborigama were instrumental in the development of such wares as *minoyaki 美濃焼 and *setoyaki 瀬戸焼.