The coming of Karamonos

The coming of Karamonos

The art that was coming into Japan was Chinese objects. These Chinese objects were called Karamonos. Karamonos were bowls, kettles, spoons, and equipment used for making the black tea in the shoin form of chanoyu. The way the Karamonos came to Japan was by the Chinese Zen Monks, and the Japanese Monks that were traveling between the two separate countries. This exchange was taking place during the Ming Chinese Dynasty and the reign of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. This happened during the early fifteenth century. There have been previous priest that traveled to and from the two countries bringing trade between the two countries.

Most of the Karamonos were made use for religious purposes and were used in Zen Buddhist temples. There were times of strain of the importation of goods, like during the Mongol rule. The trade was severely. Despite this lack of trade, there were some small boats that were able to get the Karamonos from China and bring them back to Japan.

This is how the transmission of shingi was brought to Japan. This transmission of shingi brought things like painting, scrolls of calligraphy, and tenmoku tea bowls. When they acquired these utensils, they became aesthetic appreciation. (Tea in Japan, 15)