Abstract
Haji-type earthenware, the most common earthenware from medieval sites in Japan, is thought to have been a special type of pottery for use in rituals and banquets, but some scholars are of the opinion that it had varied functions centered on daily use. There are still many aspects of the meaning and use of Haji-type earthenware that are not understood. The object of this article is to clarify the essence of the meaning of Haji-type earthenware and to link that meaning with its actual use.
Historical documents confirm that Haji-type earthenware was used in ceremonies performed by the warrior class. From an investigation of the social function of these ceremonies, it was concluded that they can be defined as attempts to strengthen group bonds by the temporary dissolution of social unification through the non-ordinary world. There were two ways of making this non-ordinary world appear: one involved strengthening the worldly order into a supra-or-dinary world, the other deviation from the mundane into an anti-ordinary world. As ways of dissolving social unity these were complete opposites, but neither method could achieve its purpose on its own and they developed a mutually dependent relationship.
The non-ordinary world was cut from the ordinary world like a frame and expressed through the concept of kari-some, that which is impermanent or trifling. Haji-type earthenware carried this message of 'impermanence' because it was easily broken and thus could not be used for long periods of time. It is argued here that through this message of 'impermanence', Haji-type earthenware was used as a tool for the non-ordinary world. Various archaeological, documentary and pictorial sources can be used to reconstruct the use patterns of Haji-type earthenware, but it can be seen that these all contain a coherent meaning of 'impermanence'.
