Sueki - Sueki

Generally speaking, it can be said that it is unglazed bisque pottery with a blue-gray color that has been fired hard, but there are also some that are reddish brown and have beautiful natural glazes, so it is not necessarily consistent. The production techniques were introduced from the Korean Peninsula during the Kofun period, and it is a groundbreaking pottery not seen in traditional earthenware (hajiki), with constructed kilns (anagama) that can be fired at high temperatures of over 1000°C and a potter's wheel that can be used to produce large quantities of products to the same standard. In particular, its excellent water retention has led to increased demand for it as a storage container. Types of vessels include storage containers such as jars and pots, serving containers such as lidded bowls, high bowls, pedestals, and bowls, and steamers for boiling.

Based on the similarity of relics, the production techniques are said to have been brought from Baekje, Silla, and Gaya regions during the Three Kingdoms period of Korea, but there are various theories as to when they were brought, ranging from the end of the 4th century to the latter half of the 5th century, and there is no certainty. From written historical materials, the Nihon Shoki, in the third year of Emperor Suinin, states, "The potters in the valley of Kagami Village in Omi Province were, in effect, servants of Ame no Hiboko." Furthermore, in the seventh year of Emperor Yuryaku, this year's entry, the name "Imaki no Aya no Suetsukuri Kouki" appears. The former is thought to indicate the Kagami kiln site in Ryuo-cho, Gamo-gun, Shiga Prefecture, but no Sueki kiln sites dating back that far have been confirmed. The latter's origin is unknown, and both articles have many ambiguities and cannot be conclusive. Sueki has been excavated from ruins all over the country, including Hokkaido, and their examination is an important source of information for estimating its age and characteristics. In particular, because of its excellent standardization, it is possible to compare and examine it, and the main research has been directed at establishing a type chronology. Representative production sites include the Suemura kiln site in Osaka Prefecture, the Sakuraitani kiln site, the kiln site on the southwest foot of Mt. Sanage in Aichi Prefecture, the Minosue kiln site in Gifu Prefecture, the Suemura kiln site in Kagawa Prefecture, and the Satsuma kiln site in Hyogo Prefecture. According to the Engishiki, the countries that paid tribute in the form of sueki ware as tax during the Heian period were "Izumi, Settsu, Yamashiro, Mino, Sanuki, Harima, Bizen, and Chikuzen."

[Hiroshi Nakamura]

"Sue Ware" by Hiroshi Nakamura (1980, New Science Publishing)" ▽ "The Complete Collection of Sue Ware" by Shozo Tanabe (1981, Kadokawa Shoten)" ▽ "Complete Collection of World Ceramics 2: Ancient Japan" edited by Shoichi Narazaki (1979, Shogakukan)" ▽ "Primitive Art of Japan 4: Sue Ware" by Shozo Haraguchi (1979, Kodansha)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

一般的には、青灰色を呈し、堅く焼け固まった施釉(せゆう)しない素焼(すやき)の焼物であるということができるが、赤褐色を呈するものや、美しい自然釉が認められるものもあり、かならずしも一定しない。古墳時代に朝鮮半島からその製作技術が伝えられたもので、構築した窯（窖窯(あながま)）を有し、1000℃以上の高温で焼成することや、ろくろを使用し多量の製品を同一規格でつくりうることなど、従来の土器（土師器(はじき)）にみられない画期的な焼物である。とくに保水性に富む利点は貯蔵容器として需要を拡大した。器種には、貯蔵容器たる甕(かめ)、壺(つぼ)、供膳(くぜん)容器たる蓋坏(ふたつき)、高坏(たかつき)、器台、鉢など、煮沸容器として甑(こしき)がおのおのみられる。

　製作技術は、遺物の近似することなどから、朝鮮三国時代の百済(くだら)、新羅(しらぎ)、伽倻(かや)地域からもたらされたとされるが、時期は4世紀末から5世紀後半までの間、諸説があり一定しない。文献史料からは『日本書紀』垂仁(すいにん)天皇3年の一云条に「近江国(おうみのくに)鏡(かがみ)村の谷の陶人(すえびと)は則(すなわ)ち天日槍(あめのひぼこ)の従人(つかいびと)なり」とある。さらに雄略(ゆうりゃく)天皇7年是歳(ことし)条には「新漢陶部高貴(いまきのあやのすえつくりこうき)」の名がみえる。前者は滋賀県蒲生(がもう)郡竜王町所在の鏡窯址(ようし)群を示すものと考えられるが、古くさかのぼる須恵器窯址は確認されていない。後者の故地は不明であり、両記事ともあいまいな点が多く、確たるものとはなりえない。須恵器は北海道を含む全国各地の遺跡から出土しており、その検討が年代、性格推定の重要な資料となっている。とくに規格性に優れる点から、その比較検討が可能で、主たる研究が型式編年の確立に向けられてきた。代表的な生産跡としては、大阪府陶邑(すえむら)窯址群、桜井谷窯址群、愛知県猿投山(さなげやま)西南麓(ろく)窯址群、岐阜県美濃須衛(みのすえ)窯址群、香川県陶邑窯址群、兵庫県札馬(さつま)窯址群などがある。なお平安時代の税、調として須恵器を貢納した国は『延喜式(えんぎしき)』によると、「和泉(いずみ)、摂津(せっつ)、山城(やましろ)、美濃(みの)、讃岐(さぬき)、播磨(はりま)、備前(びぜん)、筑前(ちくぜん)」の各国であった。

［中村　浩］

『中村浩著『須恵器』（1980・ニュー・サイエンス社）』▽『田辺昭三著『須恵器大成』（1981・角川書店）』▽『楢崎彰一編『世界陶磁全集2　日本古代』（1979・小学館）』▽『原口正三著『日本の原始美術4　須恵器』（1979・講談社）』

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例