The vogue attained by the _cha-no-yu_ (tea ceremonial) cult under the Ashikaga shōguns and owing to the efforts of Sen-no-Rikiu, a celebrated dilettante of Hideyoshi's time, had a marked influence in encouraging the development of ceramics, and several experts of the craft made their appearance. During the reign of Gokashiwabara, a potter named Shozui traveled to China to study the processes of his art, and on his return established a kiln in Hizen, where the first Japanese translucent porcelain was produced. Shozui adapted his methods to the canons of the _cha-no-yu_ cult, making simplicity and purity of style his chief objects. The lacquerer's art also made great progress in this era. Its experts found munificent patronage owing to the luxurious and costly tastes which prevailed at the time in obedience to the example set by the Ashikaga rulers. Objects of extraordinary richness and delicacy were produced, especially in the line of gold lacquer, where the Japanese workers developed unique skill. Their _chefs-d'oeuvre_ were not more valued in Japan than in China, where they were known as "_Yatpun T'sat-ki_." Two other famous varieties of lacquer work had their origin in this era, namely, _tsuishu_, or red lacquer, chiseled in high relief, and _tsuikoku_, or lacquer laid on in alternate layers of red and black and carved deeply, the edges of the design being sloped so as to show the gradation of layers. Despite the continued warfare and unceasing disturbance of the Muromachi epoch, the shōguns and the great nobles and generals affected a most luxurious and refined manner of life, and it consequently resulted that the blackest era of Japanese history, so far as concerned the preservation of public peace and order and the security of life and property, was nevertheless a time of marked artistic development. FOOTNOTES: [1] 100. Emperor Gokomatsu, 1383-1413. | 101. Emperor Shōkō, 1413-1429. | 102. Emperor Gohanazono, 1429-1465. | 103. Emperor Gotsuchimikado, 1465-1501. [2] The following is the list of the emperors of this period: 103. Emperor Gotsuchimikado, 1465-1501. 104. Emperor Gokashiwabara, 1501-1527. 105. Emperor Gonara, 1527-1558. 106. Emperor Ogimachi, 1558-1587. 107. Emperor Goyōzei, 1587-1612. [3] The shōguns of the Ashikaga family and the years of their rule were as follows: 1. Ashikaga Takauji, 1335-1358. 8. Ashikaga Yoshimasa, 1449-1473. 2. Ashikaga Yoshiakira, 1358-1367. 9. Ashikaga Yoshihisa, 1473-1489. 3. Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, 1367-1394. 10. Ashikaga Yoshimura, 1489-1493 4. Ashikaga Yoshimochi, 1394-1423 and 1508-1521. and 1425-1428. 11. Ashikaga Yoshizumi, 1493-1508. 5. Ashikaga Yoshikazu, 1423-1425. 12. Ashikaga Yoshiharu, 1521-1545. 6. Ashikaga Yoshinori, 1428-1441. 13. Ashikaga Yoshiteru, 1545-1565. 7. Ashikaga Yoshikatsu, 1441-1449. 14. Ashikaga Yoshinaga, 1565-1568. 15. Ashikaga Yoshiaki, 1568-1573.