the “Mother of Arita ware”
This is a statue of Baek Pasun (1561~1656), the wife of Fukaumi Souden ( ？~1616), one of the Korean potters involved in the founding of Arita ware.
Baek Pasun, who was called the “mother of Arita ware” is also the model of the Korean drama” Goddess of Fire”.
Baek Pasun and her husband came to Japan with the return of the Lord of Takeo from Korea, that served in Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s military invasion to Korea. They initially made pottery in Takeo.
Souden died in 1618, and Baek Pasun and her children continued to make pottery. But as porcelain production became increasing in Arita, she decided her clan to move to Arita and continued to produce porcelain. She died in 1656 at the age of 96.
Even now, more than 350 years later, the Fukaumi family is still involved in the porcelain industry in Arita by manufacturing and selling paints such as gosu and glazes used in porcelain production.
There is also a guesthouse and gallery next to the statue. Please take a look when you come to Arita.
(R.H.)
