Honnoji Bunrin
本能寺文琳
Alternate Name: Asakura Bunrin 朝倉文琳, Mikazuki Bunrin 三日月文琳
Rank
Chaire Type
Historical Period
Current Owner / Collection
Denrai
Omeibutsu 大名物
Kansaku karamono bunrin chaire 漢作唐物文琳茶入
Southern Song Dynasty 南宋時代
The Gotoh Museum 五島美術館
Asakura Yoshikage 朝倉義景 – Oda Nobunaga織田信長 – Honnōji Temple本能寺 – Nakai Yamato no kami Masatsugu 中井大和守正次 – Kobori Niemon 小堀仁右衛門 – Yamakoshi Rihei 山越利兵衛 – Matsudaira Fumai 松平不昧, Matsudaira family 松平家 – Gotō Keita 五島慶太, The Gotoh Museum 五島美術館
Origin of Name and Stories
The most commonly known name, Honnōji Bunrin, derives from the fact that Oda Nobunaga gave this piece to Honnoji Temple.
The chaire was first known as the Asakura Bunrin after an early owner, Asakura Yoshikage. During his ownership, it also became known as the Mikazuki Bunrin 三日月文琳, Crescent Moon Bunrin. Later, the chaire passed to Nobunaga, who in turn donated it to Honnōji. In the early Edo period it seems that this piece passed from Honnoji to tea men of the time.
According to the chaire’s accompanying document, in 1645 Nakai Yamato no kami Masatsugu gave it to Kobori Niemon. Later it entered the hands of Yamakoshi Rihei and came into the possession of Matsudaira Fumai. Throughout the Meiji period, it moved among various private collections and finally was acquired by Goto Keita.
Physical Description
Among bunrin chaire, Honnoji Bunrin has a long torso and a strongly pronounced shoulder, much like the well-known Hōzuki Bunrin 酸漿文林. The neck is tall and the rim of the mouth is sharply everted. The torso expands softly under the shiny dark brown glaze that covers the body of the chaire. Two amber-colored streams fall from the shoulder to merge near the hem of the glaze, establishing the front orientation. The base is tightly tucked under the torso and this area, known as the tatamitsuki, is the only area where the clay body is revealed. The itokiri is distinct and beautifully finished. The provenance and visual attributes of this object of rare beauty make it without question one of the omeibutsu.
Height: 7.3 cm
Weight: 87.4 g
Mouth diameter: 2.7 cm
Body diameter: 6.9 cm
Base diameter: 3.0 cm
Accompanying items
Lid
Shifuku
Six, ivory
One made by Joko上古
Five of the six have mushikui scenery
Seven
Suminokura gire 角倉裂 
Mochizuki kanto (Asakura kantō) 望月間道 (朝倉間道)
Shijira kanto 縬間道
Mizutori donsu (Honnoji kire) 水鳥緞子 (本能寺裂)
Katasuji donsu 堅筋緞子
Osaka shokkin 大阪蜀錦
Tray
Hikiya
Hikiyabukuro
Box inscriptions
Tsuishu goyo bon 堆朱五葉盆, carved cinnabar lacquer five-lobed
Ivory
Ichigo gire いちご裂
Three, all inscribed by Matsudaira Fumai 松平不昧
Box for lids: 本能寺文琳 蓋 Honnoji Bunrin futa
Box for shifuku: 本能寺文琳 袋 Honnoji Bunrin fukuro
Box for tray: 五葉盆 張成作 Goyo bon Chojo saku
Accompanying documents
Yuishogaki 由緒書, a letter of provenance, from Nakai Yamato no kami Masatsugu 中井大和守正次 to Kobori Niemon 小堀仁右衛門
Research and Image Sources
The Gotoh Museum
Chadogu no sekai, volume 5 (Tankosha)
Genshoku chado daijiten (Tankosha)
Chado bijutsu kansho jiten (Tankosha)
