An imposing statue of the Judge of Hell, Shoki (Chinese: Zhong Kui). He is standing on hell fire with body posed to the side, a drawn sword in hand, left foot stepping forward in a combative posture. Shoki made his first appearance in the 8th century, when the Tang Emperor Ming Huang was haunted by demons during his sleep. Then one night he dreamed of a huge demon capturing and eating a smaller one. Upon awakening, Emperor Ming Huang instructed the court painter Wu Daozi to paint a portrait of the Ghost Eater. This became the first image of Zhong Kui, a black faced judge of Hell with a large flaring beard, dressed in imperial robes and wielding a large sword.

Bizen-yaki ceramic is generally unglazed, its iron-like hardness and gradual colors on the silken surface are from the direct result of firing in a kiln, where 1200°C was maintained for over two weeks. It isn't unusual for ceramic fissures during this firing process.