Sen No Rikyu Sen Essay Example
Sen No Rikyu The most influential Japanese tea master in Japan’s history is considered to be Sen No Rikyu. He made the tea ceremony Chanoyu (Way of tea) into an art form. Sen no Rikyu was born in 1522 to the name of Yoshiro in the merchant city of Sakai. Rikyu was born to a prominent family, his father, Yohei, was a city council member (The Japanese Way, 1998) as well as an accomplished merchant.
(Above) Sen No Rikyu
Developing of Wabi-Cha
Wabi-Cha is a Japanese discipline of drinking tea. As stated in the article “Two for Tea”: The “Wabi” refers to the beauty that is found in simple things and Cha means tea. (Japan Journal)
At a young age Sen No Rikyu began to study tea ceremony under Kitamuki Dochi. During his time with kitamuki Dochi, he studied the elegant tea traditions of Higashiyama, which resembles that of a traditional Chinese tea ceremony and is best suited for a shoin room. (Fujimori, 2007)
See link for a brief description of a Shoin Room: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/shoin_room
At the age of 19 Sen No Rikyu began to study under Takeno Jo-o, where he learned the contemporary style of tea ceremony. This type of tea ceremony was best suited for a smaller room, known as thatched tea house. In the Daitoku-ji temple, located northwest of Kyoto, Rikyu underwent Zen training as a Zen-Buddhist. After his training he changed his name to Sen Soueki (Japanese). By combining these two different methods of tea ceremonies, he was able to create a new foundation for tea ceremonies as declared in the article “Rikyu and the Fruition of the way of tea”: As this indicates, Rikyu first studied with Kitamuki Dochin, who practiced the Higashiyama style of tea that had come down from Noami. Thereafter, he studied with Joo in the Juko tradition, and by conjoining these two strands, he was able to construct a new basis for the success of Chanoyu. (The Japanese Way, 1998)
(Above) Daitoku-Ji temple
Daitoku-ji temple Video:
(Above) Sen No Rikyu
Developing of Wabi-Cha
Wabi-Cha is a Japanese discipline of drinking tea. As stated in the article “Two for Tea”: The “Wabi” refers to the beauty that is found in simple things and Cha means tea. (Japan Journal)
At a young age Sen No Rikyu began to study tea ceremony under Kitamuki Dochi. During his time with kitamuki Dochi, he studied the elegant tea traditions of Higashiyama, which resembles that of a traditional Chinese tea ceremony and is best suited for a shoin room. (Fujimori, 2007)
See link for a brief description of a Shoin Room: http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/shoin_room
At the age of 19 Sen No Rikyu began to study under Takeno Jo-o, where he learned the contemporary style of tea ceremony. This type of tea ceremony was best suited for a smaller room, known as thatched tea house. In the Daitoku-ji temple, located northwest of Kyoto, Rikyu underwent Zen training as a Zen-Buddhist. After his training he changed his name to Sen Soueki (Japanese). By combining these two different methods of tea ceremonies, he was able to create a new foundation for tea ceremonies as declared in the article “Rikyu and the Fruition of the way of tea”: As this indicates, Rikyu first studied with Kitamuki Dochin, who practiced the Higashiyama style of tea that had come down from Noami. Thereafter, he studied with Joo in the Juko tradition, and by conjoining these two strands, he was able to construct a new basis for the success of Chanoyu. (The Japanese Way, 1998)
(Above) Daitoku-Ji temple
Daitoku-ji temple Video: