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Sen no Rikyū, tea master
A merchant from Sakai who became tea master to 織田信長 and 豊臣秀吉 and perfected the style of tea known as わび茶, which values simplicity and quiet, rustic beauty. Hideyoshi later ordered him to commit suicide, for reasons still debated.
Rikyū is the central figure of the tea ceremony; the three main 千家 schools trace their line to him. His name is also used for things in a simple, understated style.
Common expressions
- わび茶: the austere, rustic style of tea he perfected
- 一期一会: "one time, one meeting" — the tea-ceremony ideal that each gathering is unique, traced to his teaching
- 待庵: the two-mat tea room attributed to him, a national treasure
- 利休鼠: a gray with a green tint named after him
Cultural note
His contrast with Hideyoshi, who built a golden tea room, is a favorite theme of novels and films about taste and power.