Lee Cam Pyung, the pioneer of Arita Porcelain, supposedly came from Kumgabg,
Ch’ungch’ong Province in old Korea (South Korea).
In 1592 when Toyotomi, Hideyoshi sent his forces to Korean Peninsula,
Lee Cam Pyung was taken prisoner by the troops of Nabeshima, Naoshige.
Lee Cam Pyung was supposedly ordered to support the troops and
work as a guide for them in Korea.
At first, put in the custody of Taku, Yasuzumi, an executive of
the Lord Nabeshima, Lee Cam Pyung stayed in Taku Village, Ogi Gun and built a kiln.
Lee Cam Pyung was not satisfied with the quality of local clay, and so he often travelled around Saga Clan to find the best quality clay for porcelain.
Around 1616 when Lee Cam Pyung built his own kiln at Midaibashi in Arita District, Matsu'ura Gun, he finally discovered high quality kaolin, the best material for porcelain, in Mr. Izumiyama.
Then, Lee Cam Pyung settled in Kami-Shirakawa and started to bake fine white porcelain for the first time in Japan.
This fact marked the start of the history of Japanese porcelain production.
Since then, as this is well known, Lee’s porcelain production technology has been handed down unbrokenly by many excellent local potters for centuries,
bringing a great prosperity to the current Arita Porcelain Industry.
We admire Lee Cam Pyung not only as the pioneer of Arita Porcelain Industry,
but also as the great benefactor to the whole Ceramic Industry in Japan.
Even today, a great number of people in pottery & porcelain related industries
really appreciate the benefits this great pioneer left to us, and worship
his great achievements from the bottom of their hearts.
In commemoration of Japan－Korea Friendship Year 2005, we wish for the further development of bilateral understanding and friendship exchange
between the nations of the two countries, and also wish that the history
of this beautiful bilateral exchange will be handed down to the future forever.
