Sen no Rikyu

1522-1591

Sen no Rikyu 千利休

This work refers to Sen no Rikyu with his previous name, Senno Soeki, as well.

Made by Manna Tsuchiya, 2022

Tea and War

For leaders of armies, the currency of war ranges from gold, land and people they govern. But for the Japanese Daimyo of the Warring States period, the most unique resource was certainly tea implements. While visiting Europeans noted how absurd it was that “all these utensils are regarded as the jewels of Japan”, for Japanese warmongers the collection and distribution of such artifacts proved a vital method of both recruitment through gifting, as well as displays of influence.

In a chaotic, deadly time where assassination and betrayal were commonplace, the holding of tea ceremonies proved to be the only social setting in which samurai were sure of absolute peace.

Perhaps the most famous of the importance of tea artifacts is of the Three Great Tea Caddies of Japan— Hatsuhana, Nitta and Narashiba. Despite their tiny size, and plain appreances, the historical importance of these vessels were so grand that it was said that if one were to obtain all three, it would be the same as obtaining all of Japan itself. Because of this status, as the warlord Oda Nobunaga got closer to uniting all of Japan under his banner, he declared Meibutsugari, or the hunt of tea artifacts. Nobunaga hired a humble monk, the lowly son of a fishmongerer, who had made a name for himself as a master aesthete and local expert of appraising tokonama and tea artifacts. This man was Senno Soeki, who would later become famous under the name Sen no Rikyu.

The Three Great Tea Caddies of Japan

Both Hatsuhana and Nitta were obtained by Nobunaga, however Narashiba had eluded his grasp.

Said to be originally the possession of the most beautiful women of the world, Yang Guifei.

Said to have originated from descendant of the Genji Clan, Murata Juko

Was once in the possession of Shogun Yoshimasa

Hatsuhana

Nitta

Narashiba

Soon Senno Soeki had grew from his role as an appraiser of goods to being Nobunaga’s tea master. During times of war, the tea master’s role was not that of an entertainer, but moreso as a mediator. A tea master was a monk who was allowed access to his master’s tea artifacts, and in exchange preformed ceremonies with his master’s allies and enemies alike. There were mainly two types of tea ceremonies:

Shoin

Based off the tea practices of China, Shoin tea ceremonies take place in large shogunal reception rooms where one’s most treasured and valuable artworks were shown. This type of ceremony was favoured by the imperial court. It could be said that Shoin ritualistically reinforces the social hierarchy.

Wabi

Originating from the spiritual practices of Zen Buddhism, Wabi ceremonies entail a much more simple and austere experience. Meaning ‘deprived’, Wabi relates to the Buddhist ideal of achieving enlightenment through emptiness. This was expressed through the use of small, mountain-side tea huts and the minimalistic usage of art and tea utensils, as well as an emphasis on the environment itself. This tea ceremony was the one favoured by Soeki himself, as he was a member of the merchant class, he was considered the lowest of the social hierarchy despite material wealth.

Soeki’s most famous teahouse, it was built in 1582 after Nobunaga’s death. As Nobunaga’s successor, Hideyoshi, battled for his land due to the power vaccumn, Rikyu had build this Wabi teahouse near the battleground to serve him.

Because of this, Ta’ian has unique elements to reflect its wartime usage. The tiny crawldoor entrance ensured that any guest had to disarm their katana before entering, and the two-tatami wide area led to an intimate environment that made violence difficult.

Hideyoshi and Rikyu

At the height of his power, Oda Nobunaga was betrayed and killed by his allies in what is now known as the Honnou-ji Incident. Nobunaga’s death was avenged by Hashiba Hideyoshi, a man who had made a name for himself rising up Nobunaga’s ranks to retainer despite having no samurai lineage in such a rigid class system. As Hideyoshi continued Nobunaga’s dream of an united Japan, Soeki served him just as he had served his predecessor.

Hideyoshi had sought audience with the emperor of Japan, and as individuals of lower class were not allowed to be in the presence of such nobility, Hideyoshi was granted the last name Toyotomi. As it was no Soeki’s duty to serve the emperor himself, he too had his name changed to Sen no Rikyu.

Despite being Hideyoshi’s closest confidant, Rikyu and Hideyoshi often had disagreements on the nature of aesthetics.

In contrast to Rikyu’s humble tea huts, Hideyoshi had commissioned his own tea room entirely gilded with gold. Most famously, Rikyu had once planted his garden with morning glories, hearing of the beauty of these flowers, Hideyoshi had demanded a tea ceremony with Rikyu. But to his surprise, when he arrived not a single flower could be seen, all had been cut down. Enraged, Hideyoshi entered the tea-room, only to see a single flower in the alcove of the tea-room.

Setta

Alcove

Crawl-door

Two-tatami wide waiting area

Rikyu the Martyr

As Hideyoshi’s tea master, Rikyu’s influence and popularity grew exponentially. He had collaborated with other artisans to invent Raku pottery, a style of pottery still used to this day, and many high ranking daimyo and samurai and flocked to him to become his disciples. But as his acclaim grew, his relationship with Hideyoshi had strained.

In his age, Hideyoshi had grown paranoid and prone to anger. To this day it is not known what exactly lead to Hideyoshi’s ire, whether it be the aforementioned aesthetic disagreements, Rikyu’s refusal to allow Hideyoshi to take his daughter as a concubine, or jealousy at his popularity. But regardless, Hideyoshi had ordered the torture and decapitation of Rikyu’s closest disciple Yamanoue Souji, and a year later ordered the ritual suicide of Rikyu himself.

Before his suicide, Rikyu’s final act was to hold a tea ceremony where he presented all guests a gift, afterwhich he shattered his tea-bowl, saying:

“Never again shall this cup, polluted by the lips of misfortune, be used by man.”

The following year, Hideyoshi had built his final home, Fushimi Castle. It is said that he wished that Rikyu could approve of its design. Perhaps even in his blinding rage, Hideyoshi still though highly of Rikyu. As seppuku was considered a honourable death reserved for the warrior class, yet he believed the humble monk Rikyu

“In a life of seventy years, after exerting myself to the limit, now, with my own sacred sword I kill both patriarchs and the Buddha.”

“Carrying in my hands the only weapon I own— this one long sword— and at this moment, alas, I abandon it to the heavens.”

— Sen no Rikyu’s Death Poem

Sen no Rikyu is considered the father of Chanoyu, the Japanese art of tea. Born during the turbulent warring states period of Japan, examining Rikyu’s life reveals how art, tea and ritual survive and change during war.