Over 6,000 Years of Making Pottery
The oldest Okinawan earthenware that has been found dates to about 6,600 years ago, and was used to simmer food. Ceramic vessels were first imported from China around the twelfth century, but large-scale pottery production in Okinawa likely began with tile making. This was encouraged by the Ryukyu Kingdom, which adopted tile-making techniques from China and appointed a “tile administrator” in the second half of the sixteenth century to oversee its production. When Shuri Castle was rebuilt in 1672 after having been destroyed by fire, tiles were used for its roof, temples, and other official buildings. The kingdom promoted tile usage for fire prevention, and kilns were set up all over the islands.
During the 1590s, several hundred prisoners captured in Korea by Japanese forces were transported to the Satsuma feudal domain in southern Kyushu. Three of these prisoners found their way to Okinawa, bringing with them mainland techniques for making pottery jars (including for awamori). The Ryukyu Kingdom also dispatched potters to China and Japan for further study. On their return, they began making not only tiles but also jars, pots, bowls, cups, and other items. Pottery making was concentrated in the village of Tsuboya, near Shuri Castle, but local pottery traditions were established all over the islands, and many still exist.