Furo

FURO 風炉 brazier

In Kyoto the furo season is from 1st of May to 31st of October. Which in Kyoto is the summer season.

Types of Furo

  1. Karakane (Chinese bronze) and other metals

    1. Kirikake

    1. Kimen (demon mask)
    2. Koro; Chosen-tall and slender
    3. Ryukyu- Shorter, wider
      1. Others cast in bronze but subject to the rules of their shape
    4. Ho-o / sukigi
    5. Mentori

    6. Doan

    7. Unryu

    8. Konomi

      1. Shinchu (brass); all are kirikake konomi
        1. Yugao (Senso-konomi)

        2. Tsubotsubo (Itto-konomi)

        3. Oimatsu-bori (Itto-konomi)

  2. Doburo (ceramic)

    1. Ancient favorites: Jo-o; Shuko sukigi
    2. Transitional: mayu; Nara
    3. Standard: Doan; refinement: mentori

    4. Specific kettles: unryu;shiribari;marugama; Amida-do
    5. Varient shapes and surface decorations: yoho; kaku; benibachi; hoen- Hounsai konomi; ho-o; shikishi; hyotan; Tamukeyama-Tantansai; ungeiyaki
  3. Tetsu (Iron)
    1. Karakane shapes- kimen, ryukyu, chosen
    2. Doburo shapes- doan, mentori, unryu, etc.
    3. Tokiwa- Gengensai, Tantansai konomi
    4. Horai- Hounsai konomi
    5. Yabure, yatsure: originally iron kimen, kirikake furo which through long years of use gradually became fatigued &/or rusted around mouth and collapsed. Usually larger than bronze furo; used in nagori season because. rustic/rusted flavor; Naka oki related to size

  4. Ceramic- everything not II.; high fired stoneware or porcelain; e.g. Shigaraki, Bizen, Arita

  5. ItaburoRikyu created itaburo for Odawara campaign

  6. Rikyu‘s konomi is a square box made of sugi, cedar, and has two rail feet along the sides, with an oval mayu window in front and round hole in top; a Sukigi Kama must be used; the inside is lined with clay like an irori, but in a round shape; the hai used is ro hai but in a round shape.

  7. Sotan-konomi is made of kiri, with a square inside, which requires a square haigata. H is 0.8.4 (25.5cm) sq. Sides are 1.8.0 (32.7cm) sq.; the planks are 0.0.3.5(1.1cm) ; the runners are 0.0.9 (2.7cm) x 0.4.0 (1.2cm); The hole in the top of Rikyu konomi is 0.8.5 (25.8cm); the oval higuchi in the front is 0.6.5 (19.7cm) x 0.3.6 (10.9cm); located 0.1.3 (3.9cm) from top of board.

Use

A furo is generally placed five or seven tatami lines away from the edging of the left side of the tatami. But in temae like Naka oki it is placed in the center. For Gyakugatte it is placed five or seven lines away from the right edging.

A furo is placed on a Furo Shiki Ita to protect the tatami from the heat

Sidebar