The history of Arita-yaki goes back to the year 1616. In the 1590s when Toyotomi Hideyoshi withdrew troops from Korea after an unsuccessful invasion, a potter named Yi Sam Pyeong was brought back to J ...Further Details...
About Sueyama Jinja
Sueyama Jinja is a shrine dedicated to Yi Sam Pyeong who founded the Arita-yaki ceramic technique. Since ancient times, Yi Sam Pyeong has been revered as a guardian god who watches over the potters, merchants, and residents of this region. Precisely because this shrine is located in the region of Arita-yaki’s creation, it is a very rare structure that is home to porcelain torii gates, guardian dog statues, handrails, and more. At the entrance of the shrine you will find Arita-yaki protective talismans for sale that you can write your own name on.
About the founder, Yi Sam Pyeong
When Toyotomi Hideyoshi dispatched troops to Korea in 1592 and 1598, Yi was among the craftsmen and potters that came back to Japan with the troops when they withdrew from Korea. Later, in 1616 Yi discovered the white porcelain minerals that serve as the raw materials for Arita’s porcelain, and succeeded in creating porcelain with them. By 1635 there were over 150 potters producing porcelain in this area, and finally in 1650 this porcelain was exported overseas from Nagasaki. In a mere 40 years, Yi had brought about radical advancements in the pottery techniques of the region and was responsible for the creation of Arita-yaki porcelain that is still made today.
Every year on the 4th of May, a festival called “Touso-sai” (Founder’s Festival) is held in honor of Yi’s achievements. Additionally, to celebrate the 300-year anniversary of Yi developing his porcelain technique, in 1917 a special memorial monument was installed on the hill at the back of the shrine.
The nearest train station is the JR Kami-Arita Station; from the station it’s a 20 minute walk to the shrine.
Image Gallery: Sueyama Jinja
Description: Sueyama Jinja
|Sights||Sueyama Jinja (陶山神社)|
2-5-1 Otaru, Arita-cho, Nishi Matsuura-gun, Saga
|Phone / Fax||Phone: 0955-42-3310|
|Admission Fee||Free admission|
Spring (March - May)Summer (June - August) Autumn (September - November) Winter (December - February)
|Recommended target||Family Couples Child (ages 7-17) Adult (ages 20+)|
Map: Sueyama Jinja