Grade level: grades 9-12. 

Activity
This art project followed The Way of Tea social studies lesson, with a museum visit coming between the two lessons. The art lesson can be done in three or four days, with days in between to allow drying and firing time for ceramics.

Lesson 1: Museum Visit and Tea Ceremony Demonstrations

The Asian galleries at the Detroit Institute of Arts were visited to see:

1. a Jian ware Tea Bowl from China,

2. a celadon Tea Bowl from Korea, and

3. a Bizen ware Tea Storage Jar from Japan.

The student Museum Worksheet helped focus time spent in the museum. Students also learned to:

• view objects from all sides with a natural perspective,

• view objects in an appropriate, special context;

• compare the selected objects with others on display;

• see detail and textures up close;

• record and analyze first-hand observations.

Three different "tea ceremonies" arranged by the museum demonstrated that China, Korea, and Japan have their own unique approaches to tea and tea practice. (See Resources for suggestions on arranging introductions to Japanese tea.)

Chinese gongfu tea focuses on the skill required to prepare and serve tea to guests. This social occasion generally involves a host and three guests seated at a square table. 

The presentation of tea in Korea has evolved as a sign of respect between the preparer and the recipient. To this day it is closely linked with Buddhist practice, with monks using tea as an aid to staying alert, especially during periods of meditation.

The Japanese tea ceremony is performed in appreciation of natural beauty. It is a special event traditionally prepared by the host for four guests. It involves the preparation of tea in a formal setting according to prescribed rules. 

The museum visit and tea ceremonies were discussed, referring to the Museum Worksheet. The teacher reiterated the key focuses for the three tea ceremony traditions: skill for China, Respect for Korea, and appreciation for Japan. (Museum worksheet questions and terms from the Vocabulary List can be assigned as research homework and presented at the end of the unit.)

Discovering and Using Clay
Information was shared demonstrating the four stages of clay:

1. Raw clay, dry
2. Raw clay in a "plastic" state, made by adding water
3. Bisque fired clay
4. Glazed clay

Clay may be dug locally or purchased. See Resources.

The following concepts were discussed:

How is raw clay formed?
Clay is formed as the result of the erosive action of wind, water, or ice against rock. It is typically found in the wake of such activity.

Why do people make ceramic vessels?
Ceramic vessels are used for transport, decoration, preparation, and storage.

What were the first ceramic objects?
Ritual or religious objects and jewelry are some of the oldest ceramic objects found.

Making Pinch Pot Tea Bowls
The pinch method of hand-building a pot from a small ball of clay was demonstrated.
 
Students made simple drinking vessels (tea bowls) similar in size and shape to the Jian ware Tea Bowl from China and the celadon Tea Bowl from Korea studied at the museum. Students were reminded to put their initials on the bottom of their vessels to identify them after firing.
 
Note: When clay bowls have partially dried to a leather hard stage, bowls can be incised with a sharp tool in patterns to simulate the technique used in the celadon Tea Bowl from Korea. The incised areas were filled with colored slip (clay thinned with water) and allowed to dry. Excess surface clay was scraped away to leave a smooth, patterned surface.
 

Allow a few days for bowls to air-dry then be bisque-fired. After firing, have students apply glaze.

Examples of glazes on sample tiles, as well as glaze ingredients, were discussed. Glaze components were grouped into those that are glass forming and those that are colorants.

The following concepts were discussed:

What is a glaze?
Glaze is a glass-like coating on the surface of a ceramic object.

Why do we glaze?
We use glaze for its decorative and porosity stopping properties.

What makes a glaze shiny?
Glaze is shiny because its glass-forming components (mainly silica) vitrify during firing.

What gives glaze its color?
Various oxides and minerals give glaze its color.

How to mix and apply glaze was demonstrated. A glaze can be applied by dipping, pouring, or brushing. Remind students to carefully clean the foot of their work so it won't fuse to the kiln during firing.

Raku Glazes
Either commercially prepared raku glazes (see Resources), or teacher-prepared raku glazes (which are more unusual and exciting to work with) can be used to glaze vessels and tea bowls. There are several commercially available brown glazes with a high iron content that replicate the appearance of the "hare's fur" glaze on the Chinese Jian ware Tea Bowl. Green celadon glazes similar to that on the Korean Tea Bowl can also be purchased.

Note: Most raku glazes are not suitable for use on the inside surfaces of food vessels. Apply and fire a food-safe glaze before a raku firing.
 

Outdoor Raku Firing
To create vessels with fire-marked surfaces similar to the Bizen ware Tea Storage Jar from Japan, use a gas-fired outdoor kiln with a propane tank.

Raku firing must be performed outdoors. An area of the school grounds not accessible to students other than my own was used. Raku techniques and safety procedures were demonstrated several times around the unheated kiln.

Everyone had a role in the firing process. Students handled hot ware and manipulated molten glazes by smothering (reducing the oxygen) the wares in a variety of materials including sawdust and old leaves, and salt-water soaked rags. Lusters were added to some wares by spraying solutions of metallic oxides on the surfaces after the reduction process. Finally, the still-smoking ware was quenched in pails of water causing re-oxidation to occur, which preserved the effects of the raku manipulations.

Teacher Comments
Without exception, students are excited, challenged (sometimes terrified), and thrilled with their raku experience. They gain skills, competence, and self-confidence in their abilities as artists through the work they produce, and the shared experience as part of the raku team.

Note: See the book Low Fire in Resources for discussion of raku techniques, and various simple kilns that can be built and fired outdoors.
 

We reviewed videos we had taped during the tea ceremonies at the DIA. (See Lesson One.) You can show a film of a tea ceremony such as Cha-No-Yu: The Way of Tea (see Resources), then discuss aspects of the tea ceremony. Plan an innovative tea ceremony of your own, using the vessels made and fired.

Document on still or moving media the performance of a simple tea ceremony. Use the Rubric for Tea Ceremony as a tool for assessing student participation.
The following concepts were shared:

The emphasis is on simplicity and natural beauty, such as the beauty of the vessels, the host's attention to details of tea preparation and the décor of the tea environment.

• A spiritual relationship exists between host and guest without emphasis on status or rank.
   
• No two tea implements are the same: tall water jar with flat tea caddy, iron kettle, wooden tea scoop, etc.
   
• Conversation is limited to vessel and utensil appreciation.
   
• It is most important to make your guests feel comfortable.

• Guests assemble and are led to the area prepared for the tea ceremony. Time is set aside for guests to admire hanging scrolls, flowers, or other decorations.
   
• Once the participants are seated, the host begins preparation of the tea.
   
• Tea is added to the pot or bowl, then hot water is added. Powdered tea may be whisked while tea leaves are steeped.
   
• When served, guests admire the tea bowl. The appearance of the tea may be noted, and the aroma inhaled and admired. According to Japanese etiquette, the guest takes one sip, then pauses a moment to enjoy and reflect on the taste, complimenting the host on the flavor of the tea. Sweets, which are a nice contrast to the slight bitterness of tea, may be served at this time.
   
• A second brewing of tea may take place. This is a less formal part of the ceremony.
   
• When the tea is finished, guests thank the host and depart.

Teas to try: 

matcha-Japanese powdered green tea
bodi-cha-Korean roasted barley tea (no caffeine)
Yin Zhen (Silver Needles)-a "white" Chinese Tea from Fujian Province, harvested from the very tip of the tea plant, which is not actually white but very pale green due to the immaturity of the leaves.

Note: Teas, sweets, and tea utensils are available from local Asian groceries and Web sites in Resources.