－In Memory of the Legacy of SEN Sōtan－

On November 19, 2024, the Sōtan Memorial, one of the three major memorial observances held annually at the Urasenke head house, took place. Approximately 300 Urasenke chadō followers from within and outside Japan took part.

Genpaku Sōtan (1578-1658), the Sen family’s third-generation ancestor, succeeded Rikyū and then Shōan in consummating wabi-cha, the Way of Tea based on the wabi spirit and aesthetic. He built the Konnichian and Yuin tea rooms, and in this and other ways, laid the foundation of the Urasenke head house.

The memorial observance commenced in the Chōfū-no-ma room within the Heisei Chashitsu at 9:00 A.M., with a greeting by Daisōshō SEN Genshitsu. Iemoto SEN Sōshitsu entered and solemnly conducted the chatō-no-gi tea-offering preparation. As Daisōshō intoned the Buddhist “Four Great Vows” (Shiguseigan), Wakasōshō SEN Sōshi placed the offering before the portrait of Sōtan hanging in the alcove, and all those in the room placed their palms together in silent remembrance of Sōtan’s legacy.

Next, Iemoto prepared koicha (thick tea) in the kakufuku-date (separate bowl for each guest) manner for the four representative guests, and Wakasōshō conveyed it to them. They were SHIMOMURA Hirofumi (Tankōkai Assistant Councilor, Osaka West Chapter Vice President), and the following three among the distinguished Urasenke chadō masters (meiyō shihan) who were in attendance: HONMA Sōju (Tankōkai Kyoto South Chapter Counselor), BABA Sōkaku (Tankōkai Kyoto West Chapter Counselor), and AOSHIMA Sōchi (Tankōkai Shizuoka Chapter Chief of Administration).

From the Kanbayashi Shunsho family, Urasenke’s heirloom tea jar, which they had packed with the year’s shincha (tea from the first harvest in the spring), was delivered and placed in the Rikyū Ancestral Altar Hall as an offering.

Meanwhile, in the Chōfū-no-ma, a ceremony was held to confer the esteemed meiyō shihan title onto seventeen individuals who have shown deep dedication to the Way of Tea for a great many years.

Members of the Konnichian corps of deputy tea masters conducted Hanayose-no-shiki (a form of Shichijishiki group exercise involving flower arranging), and groups of Urasenke chadō practitioners who study directly under the Iemoto conducted other Shichijishiki group chanoyu exercises as offerings. 

Hanayose-no-shiki

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Note: During these Shichijishiki group exercises, the method now is to not reuse the tea bowls but to employ a fresh one for each bowl of tea.

In the Heisei Chashitsu’s Kangetsu-no-ma, the implements that were brought together for this occasion were on display.

Auxiliary venues were arranged in the Chadō Kaikan and Urasenke Gakuen building. At the one in the Chadō Kaikan, the confection served with the usucha (thin tea) was ginkgo-nut mochi, specifically relevant to this occasion in memory Sōtan.