Tōdo: The Way of Clay, by Nanzan Ito
Pottery uses naturally existing materials such as clay, water and fire to create objects of art and everyday use. The technique is not easily mastered and requires many years of experience and effort. There is also, however, an element that cannot be resolved merely with technique. Because pottery deals with the Earth itself, if you ignore the laws of nature, you will make mistakes and be disappointed in the end. For example, if you hastily allow the bowl to dry, it will crack. Conversely, if it is not sufficiently dried before firing it in the kiln, it will explode. What is important in pottery is to not oppose Nature, but to be one with it and focus on the work with humility. Be sensitive yet bold, put your entire self in the work, and become one with the natural world. This process is true not only in pottery but in many endeavors that humans have engaged in.
As I write this, I am near the end of a three-week live-in training at Chozen-ji, a Zen temple in the back of Kalihi Valley. Chozen-ji sits in a manawa, a mountain of mana (chi, ki, vital energy). Every morning and evening we did zazen. We practiced Mui Tai Chi and the Hojo, an old sword form, and learned about breath, posture, and concentration. I did Chado and Kendo several times and made bowls every day. At Chozen-ji I was able to see the spirituality in all the arts and learned an essential lesson: any endeavor can become a Way to develop oneself. Practicing an endeavor as a Way transforms it into a path to complete human being, and zazen is the fundamental practice.
Through the practice of Shin-Gi-Tai (heart/mind-technique-body as one), you learn that it is absolutely necessary in pottery to have discipline that requires perseverance and patience. You must develop physical and spiritual health to build kiai (vital energy) and learn to focus while being sensitive to your environment and mindful of Nature. These necessities are at the heart of all the Japanese martial and cultural arts. By integrating the training at Chozen-ji with my profession as a ceramicist, I hope to develop Tōdo, the Way of Clay.
Rokuro, The Potter’s Wheel
Rokuro was invented many thousands of years ago and is still an essential tool in today’s pottery. As the adage, “3 years of kneading and 10 years of rokuro,” states, it takes a long time to master the rokuro. In my experience, to be able to produce satisfactory products of the same shape, size and weight (something like rice bowls or teacups) takes at least 1000 attempts
Although it takes experience and effort, there are fundamentals that can help you to master it. Understand that the rokuro is a tool that allows you to use the centrifugal force of the spinning wheel to shape the pottery. The first stage is tsuchigoroshi (killing the clay) which consists of impaling the clay on the rokuro and establishing its center point. This is the basic, or perhaps the whole, of the rokuro operation.
Tsuchigoroshi, requires quite a lot of strength. To generate this power, you should not rely only on your arms but also use the power from the lower body. Control the breathing, correct the posture, bring the elbows in, and fully focus on establishing the center. This proper, abdominal breathing, harnessing the power from the lower body and focusing are also applied in martial arts, cultural arts, and athletic sports.
Repeating this simple work of tsuchigoroshi day after day is the way to master the rokuro operation. Doing this will naturally develop your body, spirit and ability to focus, and the result will be reflected in your daily living in a positive way. The turnings of life is like the spinning of the wheel. Your challenge is to do tsuchigoroshi day after day and use the force of life to shape your character.