Research on Provincial Kilns Used for Firing Both Roof-Tiles and Pottery

Abstract

From the mid-Nara period, provincial Kokubunji temples were built all over Japan. Most of the roof-tiles required for these temples were produced in special workshops administered by the provincial governors (kokushi). In previous research, however, I have shown that when Kokubunji construction began to decline, and with it the demand for roof-tiles, each province differed as to whether the existing workshops were maintained or else were shut down and craftsmen brought in from elsewhere when tiles were required for temple repairs and so forth. In this paper I primarily attempt to analyze the different histories of Kokubunji tile workshops by comparing provinces where tiles were produced in association with ceramics with those where they were made separately.
Omi, Musashi, Kamino, Shimono, Sado, Mutsu and Dewa are provinces where ceramics were produced in the same kilns as tiles in the Kokubunji roof-tile workshops. As a result of an examination of both the design and the fabrication techniques of roof tiles from these provinces, it was shown that, with a few exceptions, the same traditions of design and fabrication were maintained from the start of production through until the repair phase in the 9 th century. From this it is argued that the same groups of craftsmen continued to be engaged in roof-tile production at Kokubunji tile workshops that combined the production of ceramics.
From the 9 th century, provincial combined tile and ceramic kilns were mainly organized around the requirements of ceramic production. With the reduced demand for roof tiles with the decline in Kokubunji construction, roof tile craft workers could only continue their work through depending on ceramics.