HIZEN celadons produced at Arita and Imari areas in Japan from 1630's to 1790's (Edo period) have been investigated by means of X-ray fluorescence analysis, and X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectra using synchrotron radiation. It is found that, in the HIZEN celadons, the color brightness of the celadon glazes depends on the structural property of the raw basic ceramics taken at Imaizumi (Arita) and Ohkwachi (Imari), where the former is mainly Quartz-SiO2, and the later is Sanidine ((K,Na)Si3O8). It is confirmed that CaCO3 of natural wood ash added artificially into the raw celadon ceramics makes a glassy glaze on the surface of the basic body of the HIZEN celadons. Transition-metal ions (Cr, Cu, Zn) of very small amount are detected in the celadon glazes, in addition to Fe and Mn of small amount. It is considered that Cu and Cr are related to the color brightness of green-brown and blue-green in the HIZEN celadon glazes, respectively.
HIZEN celadons; celadon glaze; microstructure
