Some 500 years ago, a quick firing process developed in Japan as a result of a natural disaster. Korean artisans, hired to manufacture bar tiles for the roofs of an earthquake devastated city, found that the clay pieces could be placed directly into a hot kiln (1500 F) and removed as soon as the glaze has melted. This discovery not only enabled the craftsman to speed up their manufacture of the tiles but opened the door to an entirely new tradition among Japanese potters. The ancient Japanese tea ceremony was soon to encompass the making of vessels in the performance of the ritual. Thus, "Raku," a new tea ceremony was born.