raku

[ rah-koo ]

noun

1. a thick-walled, rough, dark lead-glazed Japanese earthenware used in the tea ceremony.

Word History and Origins

Origin of raku¹

1870–75; < Japanese raku ( -yaki ) “pleasure” glaze, originated by Chōjirō of Kyoto, who was given the seal-stamp with the character “pleasure” from Hideyoshi as an artisan-household designation

Example Sentences

Under the first of these classifications may be included Bizen, Seto, Raku, and some other wares.

From Project Gutenberg

They are raku-yaki, awata-yaki, iwakura-yaki and kiyomizu-yaki.

From Project Gutenberg

The raku faience owed much of its popularity to the patronage of the tea clubs.

From Project Gutenberg

It is equally hard to understand why raku should have been preferred to porcelain for this special ceremonial.

From Project Gutenberg

These bowls were sometimes imported from Siam and other countries, and vessels of raku were made for the same purpose.

From Project Gutenberg