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coper red/ self immolation

updated tue 1 apr 03

 

Rick Mahaffey on sun 30 mar 03


I heard the story in undergrad school about the Chinese potter who threw
himself into the kiln because he was distraught over the lack of
results.

I dissmissed this until four years ago when on a trip to China with
students we were shown a shrine complex with three shrines, one to clay,
one to fire and one to the potter who threw himself into the kiln making
the first copper red glazes. This was in Jingdezhen (Jing doo Jun)
where there are potters still working in traditional ways.

As always YMMV (your milage may vary)

Rick Mahaffey
Tacoma, Washington, USA