Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 8.djvu/184

 receiver. The minute particles which settle at the bottom are then taken up and dried on boards. To this process is given the name of midzu-boshi, or water-drying, and it is common to all branches of the manufacture. For the fine white earthenware four kinds of clay, together with bara and white Kaseda sand, which have been previously subjected to midzu-boshi, are mixed in certain proportions known to the experienced workman. Lumps of this stuff are placed upon wooden blocks, and pounded with hammers to the extent of about three thousand blows, by which it is brought into the state of raw material; but, previously to being actually converted into clay for the potter's use, it requires about three thousand blows more. It is considered to improve in quality the longer it is kept.

The kilns in which nishiki-de and saishiki-de are baked are one-celled, and built of clay upon a foundation of brick, with walls about six Japanese inches thick. Fire is kindled in the mouth of a passage which projects from the front of the kiln, and the hot air passes up this to the chamber, where it can circulate freely round the muffle, in which the biscuit is deposited. The largest of these kilns have the following dimensions:—

A space of four inches in width is left between the muffle and the inner wall of the kiln. For nishikide three firings are necessary; first, the su-yaki, after which the glaze is put on; secondly, the honyaki, after which the piece is painted and gilded; and thirdly, slow and gradual firing, which develops the colours; the durations being twenty-four, forty-eight, and ten hours respectively. During the last firing the temperature is observed from time to time through an aperture near the top, the test employed being a piece of pottery marked with various pigments, which gradually assume the desired tints as the heat increases.