I thank the editors of the Ceramic Art magazine, and am honored to have an opportunity to share my thoughts with Ceramic Art readers. The Ceramic Art recently published a special issue on the history and techniques of using Tenmoku; therefore, I will not expand on this. Instead, I will share my thoughts of the artistic creation process. Many other ceramists will also be discussing creating by using Tenmoku in this issue, and their articles are worth reading.

Below is an extract from my article. Suggestions and concerns are welcome.

During my years in the art field, I have always believed that works of art are present for audiences to slowly appreciate, enjoy, and love, while uncovering hidden beauty under various lights and at different angles. Art appreciation is not a one-time event; rather, artistic experiences leave permanent impressions of beauty that are imprinted on viewer minds. Therefore, the creation of layered beauty is vital. According to The Book of Changes-The Great Treatise II, metaphysics is called dao and the physical is called qi. A Japanese tea ceremony master once came to my studio and said, “When I am holding a tea bowl, I can sense the approximate age and state of mind of the ceramist who made it.” This statement is an example of metaphysics. I named my Tenmoku tea bowl “Zen Tenmoku” to remind myself of the necessity for cultivating our souls and conveying kindness and beauty to viewers. For me, Tenmoku enables the expression of the spiritual level of thoughts of life, and this provides a state of serenity. The expression of this spirituality requires constant practice. Only when Tenmoku is used based on a spiritual level can clay and fire elements be used to create profound beauty and inspiration in works of art.