[Chataku, Saucer, and Coaster]
Chataku for yunomi teacups, saucers for cups, and coasters for glasses are all commonplace items on our tables. Each of these items has its own practical reason for being and its own distinct history.
The kanji character "taku" in "chataku" (teacup saucer) carries meanings such as "to support with the hand," "to push up from below," or "to rely on." True to its name, it literally translates to "something that supports tea from below."
Legend has it that during the Tang Dynasty in China, the daughter of a high-ranking official struggled to watch her father burn his fingers on a hot teacup. To help him, she fashioned a wooden ring to support the base of the cup, marking the birth of the "taku." Originally heavily influenced by Chinese teaware culture, this item spread widely across Japan as sencha green tea gained popularity. Its roots can be traced back to the "tenmokudai" (cup stands) of the Muromachi period. During the Edo period, as sencha became popular and teacups grew smaller, it evolved into the form we see today. More than just a tool to prevent burns from a hot yunomi, it holds a deep significance in traditional Japanese hospitality ("omotenashi"), ensuring that the host can serve the guest without ever touching the rim of the cup.
On the other hand, the saucer became established in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries as black tea gained popularity within aristocratic social circles. The name "saucer" originally stems from its use as a small, shallow dish for serving culinary sauces. Many early teacups lacked handles, and because tea was served scorching hot, people would pour it into these sauce dishes to cool it before drinking. Later, handles were added to the cups, but the saucer remained as part of the set for multiple purposes: to catch spills, to provide a place to rest a spoon, and as a matter of proper etiquette.
Interestingly, there is also a clear difference in cup shapes between tea and coffee. In traditional European Western tableware, teacups are generally designed to be shallow with a wide rim. Since tea is brewed with boiling water, this shape allows it to cool quickly while showcasing the elegant aroma and color of the brew. In contrast, coffee cups feature a slightly more elongated, vertical design to keep the beverage from cooling down too fast.
Lastly, coasters developed as a practical means to protect tables from condensation and heat. Paper coasters first appeared in Japan after World War II. It is said that they were introduced when Japanese people replicated the paper coasters used in the officers' clubs of the Allied Occupation Forces led by General Douglas MacArthur. During the postwar era, they became widely used in cafes, bars, and traditional ryotei restaurants, also doubling as a popular advertising medium printed with shop names and distinct illustrations. In recent years, opportunities to see paper coasters seem to have become less frequent than before.
Since ancient times in Japan, when making offerings to deities or serving meals to the nobility, food was presented on a square wooden board with a raised rim called an "oshiki." This eventually developed into the serving trays ("obon") we know today. Serving food and vessels on an individual tray for each guest was a formal style of presentation that demonstrated deep respect and hospitality toward the recipient. Chataku, oshiki, and saucers all beautifully reflect the unique tea and tableware cultures nurtured in their respective lands. Understanding the rich stories behind them seems to make our everyday tea time feel just a little bit more special.
Iwamoto Kiyoshi Shoten's Chataku
https://www.shokunin.com/en/iwamoto/chataku.html
Futagami's Coaster Kobo
https://www.shokunin.com/en/futagami/coaster.html
References
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/茶托
https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/ソーサー
https://rafuju.jp/mag/glossary/saucer/
https://yokoyamaart-museum.note.jp/n/ned2da8be3f20
https://letterpresslabo.com/2024/04/24/heiwapaper-vol65/
