Jiki (Porcelain)

Jiki (磁器) is Japanese porcelain: ceramics made from finely ground porcelain stone (a feldspathic rock rather than plain clay) and fired hot enough to fully vitrify, typically around 1,300 to 1,400°C, well above the temperatures toki (pottery) is fired at. The result is a dense, non-porous, glass-hard body that can be thrown thin, often lets light pass through at the rim, and rings with a clear, high-pitched note when tapped, unlike the dull sound of toki. Japan’s porcelain tradition began at Arita in the early 17th century after the discovery of local porcelain stone, and later spread to centers such as Kutani and Hasami. Because the fired body is non-porous, jiki generally tolerates the dishwasher and microwave far better than toki, as long as any decorative metallic trim is avoided in the microwave.