Transcript 千利休 Sen no Rikyu

千利休
Sen no Rikyu
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Culture Presentation by ジェーン
• 1522-1591
• Made large
contributions to
Japanese Tea
Ceremony
• Served as tea master
to Oda Nobunaga
and Toyotomi
Hideyoshi
Overview
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Born in the merchant
city Sakai
Began studying the
Way of Tea at an early
age
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Learned both
traditional and
contemporary tea
ceremonies
Later began study of
Zen at Daitoku-ji
Temple
Early Life/Education
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Served as tea master to
Oda Nobunaga and
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
In 1585, he received the
Buddhist rank of koji from
Emperor Ogimachi.
This established his
preeminence among
leading Japanese tea
practitioners
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Later Life
Koji: honorary title for a
lay person who lived a
pious Buddhist life
4 Fundamental Qualities
Exemplified in Tea
Ceremony
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Harmony (wa: 和)
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Respect (kei: 敬)
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Purity (sei: 清)
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Tranquility (jaku: 寂)
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Smaller tea house (built for 5)
Low doorway, meant to humble guests
before the ceremony
Separate entrances built for the host and
the guests
Separate room built for tea utensils to be
washed
New design to the utensils themselves
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Asymmetrical, return to nature
Left Lasting Impression
on Tea Ceremony
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Forced suicide—basically, Toyotomi Hideyoshi
stopped liking him.
Gathered his family and disciples at his death
bed, whereupon he composed his death
poem:
 “I raise the sword. This sword of mine;
Long in my possession. The time is come
at last. Skyward I throw it up!”
Death

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Citations and Such:
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“Sen no Riku.” Zen Stories of the Samurai. 25 Mar. 2012.
“Sen no Rikyu.” New World Encyclopedia. 25 Mar. 2012.
"Sen Rikyū." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia
Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopædia
Britannica Inc., 2012. Web. 25 Mar. 2012.