Question

What is the design of the water jar made of Bizen ware, or Bizen-yaki, from the 17th century Edo period?

1) Fire-cord design
2) Hidasuki design
3) Glazed stoneware
4) Cannot be determined

Answer 1

The design of the Bizen ware water jar from the 17th century Edo period is identified as the Hidasuki design, with distinctive reddish-orange markings from the straw wrapping technique used during firing.

Step-by-step explanation:

The design of the water jar made of Bizen ware, or Bizen-yaki, from the 17th century Edo period is most accurately described as Hidasuki design. Bizen-yaki is known for its significant lack of painting or glazing, preferring to leave the natural beauty of the fired clay to speak for itself. The technique often results in earthy color tones and markings that come from the firing process itself. Specifically, Hidasuki patterns are created when straw is wrapped around the pottery before firing, resulting in distinctive reddish-orange markings resembling cord patterns, reminiscent of the earlier Jōmon period's cord-marked pottery.

The mentioned Jōmon period is well-regarded for its cord-marked pottery, originating as early as 14,500 BCE. Likewise, the later Yayoi pottery also incorporated patterns into its designs, but it is the Bizen ware with Hidasuki design from the Edo period that this question focuses on.