Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 8.djvu/121

 new material—ajiro-tsuchi, or plait-grained clay—gave a greatly improved pâte; by no means a true porcelain, however, but heavy reddish stone-ware, over which the glaze assumed bluish grey colour. The decoration was confined to simple scroll patterns or conventional designs in impure blue sous couverte. The factory of Mikawachi was not then under official patronage. It was a private enterprise, as is proved by the fact that Higuchi Joen (Joen's father had changed his family name of Imamura to Higuchi) and Ishimaru Yaichiemon, a grandson of the well-known Risampei, together with other potters of the district, petitioned their feudal chief to sanction the digging of the Ajiro-tsuchi. Their petition was granted, but the result was so unsuccessful that the factory must have ceased working had it not been supported by Oyamado Sahei, a wealthy enthusiast, and had not its prospects been completely changed by an event that occurred in the year 1712. This was the discovery of a very fine porcelain stone at Fukae, in the island of Amakusa. The discovery is attributed by some to Yajibei, a descendant of Higuchi Toen; by others to Yokoishi Tōshichibei, also a man of Korean origin. The former tradition would seem to be correct, inasmuch as Yajibei was afterwards worshipped at Mikawachi under the deified title of "Joen Daimyōjin." The Amakusa stone was not used alone. It was mixed with the ajiro-tsuchi of Mitsu-ga-take, and a porcelain pâte of exceptional fineness and purity was thus produced. During the next thirty or forty years the potter's industry existed, but did not thrive, at Mikawachi. The method of using vitrifiable enamels was not known, or, if known, was not practised, and the expense of transporting materials from Amakusa,