Sen Shoan was the son of Rikyu's second wife by a previous marriage, and thus Rikyu's adopted son. Placed under house arrest after Rikyu's death, he was later pardoned and revived the Sen house in Kyoto, passing the line to his son Sen Sotan and so to the three schools of today.
Life
After Rikyu's death he took refuge with Gamo Ujisato in Aizu Wakamatsu, and later, with the permission of Tokugawa Ieyasu and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, returned to Kyoto and re-established Fushin'an, the compound that became the Omotesenke residence.
Why he matters
Without Shoan the Sen family line might well have ended. Since all three present-day schools descend from him, his role is decisive — a fact easily overlooked because he is not himself remembered as an innovator.
About this article
Edited by the operator of Chaen (a one-person operation) / Last updated:
Tea ceremony descriptions can vary by school and source. Where interpretations differ, this glossary avoids definitive claims and focuses on broadly shared understandings. If you notice an error, please let us know viaContact. To learn about our organization, seeAbout Chaen.
Term info
- Life dates
- 1546–1614
- Category
- Term
Related terms
- Chado (The Way of Tea)chado
The Japanese practice of preparing and serving powdered green tea, treated as a lifelong discipline rather than a beverage ritual.
- Wabiwabi
Finding sufficiency of mind within insufficiency and plainness; one of the root concepts of tea practice.
- Ichigo ichie (one time, one meeting)ichigo ichie
The principle that every gathering is unrepeatable, and should therefore be treated as if it will never occur again.
- Sen no RikyuSen no Rikyu
The tea master (1522–1591) who brought wabicha to its definitive form and from whom the three Sen schools descend.
- Sen DoanSen Doan
Rikyu's eldest son (1546–1607), who succeeded to the Sakai Sen house; the line ended after him.
- Senso SoshitsuSenso Soshitsu
Sotan's fourth son (1622–1697), founder of Urasenke, who served the Maeda house of Kaga.
- Sen SotanSen Sotan
Rikyu's grandson, the third head of the Sen house, whose four sons became the source of the three schools.