Kin Shiko (金士恒) – A Cultural Bridge in Teapot Craftsmanship
Kin Shiko was a Chinese scholar and artisan active during the late Qing Dynasty. In 1878 (Meiji 11), he was invited to Tokoname, Japan, by Koiye Manshu and his son Takashi, where he introduced Kanyoan-style teapot-making techniques—methods originating from Yixing, China. His contributions played a vital role in shaping the ceramic culture of Tokoname, though little detailed research exists about his life. The most comprehensive study to date is attributed to Yamada Tozan II.
Kin is believed to have arrived in Japan in 1877 (Meiji 10) through the recommendation of Sano Zuigan, an art dealer based in Nagasaki. Records suggest he had connections with Takatori Sonchu, a scholar-monk at Hōji Temple in Toriyama, where he may have briefly resided. While it is assumed that Kin studied Yixing techniques, there is no definitive record of his formal training at the Yixing kilns.
He named the hill where the Koiye family kiln stood “Kintozan” (Golden Island Hill). This area was also home to notable figures such as Sugie Jumondo I, Isomura Hakusai, and the father of Ina Chōzō IV, who was affiliated with the Koiye lineage.
One of the methods Kin transmitted involved forming teapots using clay slabs, shaping them with wooden paddles—an approach that closely mirrors traditional techniques in Yixing, Jiangsu Province.
A well-known inscription engraved by Kin on a teapot reads:
"In the making of vessels, value lies not in technical perfection alone. Even refined craftsmanship, when tainted with vulgarity, loses its worth. True beauty lies in natural elegance and quiet refinement— this is what makes an object truly precious."
This inscription reflects Kin Shiko’s aesthetic philosophy and his deep respect for quiet, natural beauty in utilitarian art.
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