How to read glaze and its kanji meaning

Glaze is a glassy coating that gives beautiful color to ceramics and pottery.

However, we often hear from people who are not familiar with pottery that they don't know how to read them.
In this article, we will explain the correct reading of glaze and the meaning of each kanji.

How to read glazes

Glaze is pronounced "yuyaku" or "uwagusuri." Specifically, it is pronounced as follows:

Glaze Onyomi reading: Yuu Kunyomi reading: Glaze, gloss, light
This kanji can also be read as "uwagusuri," but in the case of glaze it is read as "yuu."

Medicine reading: yaku, kun reading: kusuri
This kanji is read as "kusuri" (medicine), but in the case of glaze it is read as "yaku" (glaze).

The meaning of the kanji for glaze

To understand the word "glaze," it is important to know the meaning of each kanji character.

Glaze radical: Gomen (Gome, Gomen radical)
The kanji group 'hanbu' mainly includes characters that mean to divide.
"釆" is a combination of "no" and "rice," and is pronounced "nome," with the radical form being called "nomehen."
The original meaning of glaze is "luster" or "paint for giving a glossy finish," and it is used to beautify the surface of ceramics.

Medicine radical: Grass crown, soukou
The character "raku" is written underneath the grass radical. It refers to a substance used to cure illnesses. "Raku" resembles a person holding up a bell and shaking it. It's easier to understand if you imagine a shrine maiden. The character "yaku" with the grass radical attached means medicine to cure illnesses.
The oldest written record of it as a medicine is found in the chapter on the White Rabbit of Inaba in the Kojiki, which describes it as made from cattail pollen, ark shells, and blackened clams.

The above is an explanation of how to read "glaze" and the origin of the kanji.
These are pottery terms that you may not be familiar with, but I hope that you will understand how to read and understand their meanings and that you will be able to enjoy your pottery life.