Koya Toyoba - Mino Shinzan Tea Bowl, "Makoto" by Master Toyoba, with a signed box by宗玄 Yamakawa, Chief Priest of Shoganji Temple

◆ About the Work
This is a Shinzan tea bowl by Seiya Toyoba, a representative potter from the Okaya Kiln in Mino.
The design, with its bold brushstrokes of iron painting on a white glaze, embodies the spirit of Zen.
The mark 井 can be seen on the foot.
The inscription is 眞人 (Majin), derived from a Zen phrase meaning a true person without pretense, or one who has attained enlightenment. This inscription was written by the Venerable Sogen Yamakawa, the head priest of Shogen-ji Temple (Gifu Prefecture), a renowned Zen temple.
The signed box is elegant and lends exceptional presence to the tea ceremony.
∙ Height: Approx. 9 cm
∙ Diameter (max): Approx. 11 cm
◆ Accessories
∙ Original box (signed by Sogen Yamakawa)
∙ Original cloth
∙ Booklet
∙ Introduction letter from Toyozo Arakawa
◆ Condition
There are marks of peeling on the foot, but this is a natural characteristic from firing and does not affect usability. There are no noticeable chips or cracks. Please check the images.

[Other]
This item has been enjoyed as a display piece and has never been used. We kindly ask for purchases from those who understand that this is a used item. Please refrain from purchasing if you are concerned about minor scratches or stains.

*Due to the nature of the product, please no claims, no returns.

*Shipping is not available to Hokkaido, Okinawa, and remote islands.

[Seiya Toyoba]
Born in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture in 1942.
He studied under Living National Treasure Toyozo Arakawa and inherited the essence of Mino pottery.
He built the Kamashita Kiln and, while following the traditional path of Momoyama pottery such as Shino, Kiseto, and Setoguro, he pursued his own unique aesthetic.
He has received high acclaim in numerous public exhibitions and solo exhibitions, and is one of the leading artists of contemporary Mino pottery.

[Sogen Yamakawa]
Born in 1956. Head priest of Shogen-ji Temple (Myoshin-ji school of Rinzai Zen) in Aichi Prefecture.
He is also the president of Shogen Junior College and one of the leading Zen monks of our time.
After undergoing rigorous Zen training, he has undertaken many inscriptions and calligraphy for tea utensils, and his Zen phrase calligraphy is highly regarded among tea masters. The presence of a signed box further elevates the status of the work.

[About Shinzan Tea Bowls]
Shinzan (晋山) is a Zen phrase referring to a Zen monk newly appointed as the head priest of a mountain (temple). The Shinzan ceremony is one of the most important rituals in a temple.
This tea bowl indicates that it was created and dedicated to commemorate a Shinzan, signifying that it is not merely a piece of artist's work but a historically significant tea bowl connected to a major milestone in Zen. It is believed to have been created by Seiya Toyoba to commemorate the Shinzan of Venerable Sogen Yamakawa, and the inscription 眞人 (Majin) further deepens its Zen context.
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