Murata, Jyukoh
						Takeno Joh
						Sen Rikyu 1522-91
	Enjyobo, Soen (Kumamoto School)	Furuta, Oribe (Oribe School)	Sokai, Nanbou (Nanbou School)	Hosokawa, Sansai (Hosokawa School)	Oda, Yuraku (Yuraku School)	Shoan Sojun 1546-1614	Kenchu	Oda, Nobunaga	Toyotomi, Hideyoshi	Sen Doan 1546-1607
	Ueda, Soko (Ueda School)	Kobori, Sei-ichi (Kobori Enshu School)				(Totsutotsusai) Gempaku Sotan 1578-1658				Kanamori, Sowa (Sowa School)	Katagiri, Sadamasa (Sekishu School)	Fujibayashi, Sogen (Sogen School)
Takuan	Tokugawa, Iemitsu	Ohmori, Jinsan (Tamagawa Enshu School)	Kan'o Sosetsu ?-1652	(Rogetsuan) Senso Soshitsu (URASENKE SCHOOL) 1622-97	Yamada, Sohen (Sohen School)	(Hogensai) Koshin Sosa (OMOTESENKE SCHOOL) 1613-72	Suzuki, Fusai (Fusai School)	Fujimura, Koken (Koken School)	(Jikyusai) Ichioh Soshu (KANKYU-AN MUSHANO-KOJI SENKE SCHOOL) 1593-1676?	Shimizu, Dokan (Shimizu School)	Matsu-ura, Shinshin (Shinshin School)	Jikyo (Jikyo School)
			Hayami, Sotatsu (Hayami School)	(Fyukyusai) Joso Soshitsu 1673-1704	(Zuiryusai) Ryokyu Sosa 1650-91	Kuda, Sozen	Genso		(Kyoyusai) Bunshuku Soshu 1658-1708			Isa, Kotaku (Isa School)
				(Rikkansai) Taiso Soshitsu 1694-1726	(Kakukakusai) Genso Sosa 1678-1730	Horiuchi, Senkaku	Nyoshinsai	Matsuo, Soji (Matsuo School)	(Seiseisai) Shinpaku Soshu 1693-1745			Matsudaira, Fumai (Fumai School)
				(Saisaisai) Chikuso Soshitsu 1709-33	(Joshinsai) Ten'nen Sosa 1705-51		Kawakami, Fuhaku (Edo Senke School)		(Jikisai) Kenso Soshu 1725-82
				(Yugensai) Itto Soshitsu 1719-71	(Sottakusai) Ken'o Sosa 1744-1808				(Ittotsusai) Kyuo Soshu 1763-1838
				(Fukensai) Sekio Shoshitsu 1746-1801	(Ryoryosai) Koshuku Sosa 1775-1825				(Kokosai) Nin'o Soshu 1795-1835
				(Nintokusai) Hakuso Soshitsu 1770-1826	(Kyukusai) Shoo Sosa 1818-60				(Ishinsai) Zendo Soshu 1830-91
				(Gengensai) Seichu Soshitsu 1810-77	(Rokurokusai) Zuio Sosa 1837-1910				(Isshisai) Issho Soshu 1848-1898
				(Yumyosai) Jikiso Soshitsu 1852-1917	(Seisai) Keio Sosa 1863-1937				(Yukosai) Choshoh Soshu 1889-1953
				(Ennosai) Tetchu Soshitsu 1872-1924	(Sokuchusai) Mujin Sosa 1901-79				(Urinsai) Tokuo Soshu 1913-1999
				(Mugensai) Sekiso Shoshitsu 1893-1964	(Jimyosai) Sosa 1938-				(Futessai) Soshu 1945-
				(Hounsai) Hanso Soshitsu 1923-
				(Zabosai) Soshitsu 1956-

current tea schools

historical figures

	Sen Rikyu 1522-1591 Sen Rikyu, also known as Sen no Rikyu, is universally considered the most important figure of chanoyu (Japanese Tea Ceremony). He popularized a style which emphasized simplicity (wabi-cha). Rikyu is also indirectly considered the founder of the Sansenke, or three main schools of tea ceremony: Urasenke, Omotesenke and Mushanokojisenke. Rikyu was born in Sakai, in Osaka prefecture. At nineteen, he began to study tea under the tea master Takeno Joh, who is also associated with the development of the wabi aesthetic in tea ceremony. During these early years, Rikyu also studied Zen Buddhism at Daitoku-ji Temple. At the age of 58, Rikyu became tea master for Oda Nobunaga, and then to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, following his death. He became an important retainer and friend to Hideyoshi. During his later years, Rikyu used smaller-sized tearooms, such as the two-tatami tearoom named Taian. He developed many of his own implements for tea ceremony, including chashaku (teascoops), and futaoki (lid-rests) made of bamboo. In his designs, he managed to use everyday, easy-to-obtain objects, often in inspiring ways. He had a preference for local rustic items from Japan, rather than the extravagent and expensive Chinese items that were popular at the time. The philosophy of wabi-sabi, which has its roots in Zen Buddhism, is the ability to find beauty in the simple and natural. Although Rikyu didn't develop this idea himself, he is credited as among those most responsible for not only popularizing it, but then further developing it and incorporating it into tea ceremony. Besides tea, Rikyu also wrote poetry and practiced ikebana (Japanese flower arrangement). Although Rikyu had been one of Hideyoshi's closest confidants, there was crucial differences of opinion between the two, especially surrounding style. Hideyoshi, with a farmer caste background wanted everything lavish. This and other differences (which remain largely uncertain), led Hideyoshi to ordered Rikyu to commit ritual suicide, which he did on February 28, 1591, at the age of 70. Hideyoshi was known for his temper, and is said to later have expressed regret at his treatment of Rikyu. Rikyu's grave is located at Jukoin temple in the Daitokuji compound in Kyoto. His (posthumous) Buddhist name is Fushin'an Rikyu Soeki Koji. Memorials for Rikyu are observed annually by many of the schools of chanoyu. The Urasenke school's memorial takes place each year on March 28.
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	Takeno Joh 1502-1555 Takeno Joh (also spelled Joo) is best known for helping to develop the concept of his mentor, Murata Shukou: that tea went beyond simple entertainment, medicinal use, or even temple ceremony. "The preparation and drinking of tea was an expression of the Zen belief that every act of daily life is a potential act that can lead to enlightenment. This belief manifested itself in the development of a new aesthetic for the practice, an aesthetic which sought beauty in the imperfect and in the simple objects of everyday life." Takeno Joh was heir to an affluent leather business in the port city of Sakai (Osaka Prefecture). The wealthy merchants of Japan, just like their contemporaries in Renaissance Europe, were extremely interested in culture. Because Sakai was a port city and a center for trade with China, the local merchants were in a unique position to collect pieces of art, as well as tea utensils, from the continent. At age twenty-four he moved to Kyoto, Japan's cultural hub, where he studied poetry from the courtier and influential poet Sanjonishi Sanetaka. Returning to his hometown, Joh entered Nanshuji temple, training under the Zen priest Dairin Soto. During this time, his eyes were opened to the beauties of chanoyu and he was able to deepen his chazen ichimi (translated as: "Tea and Zen are one") style of wabi-cha (see Sen Rikyu for more on wabi). For example, he simplified the four-and-one-half-mat tearoom preferred by Shukou by replacing the white-papered walls with unpapered earthen ones, by using lattice work of bamboo instead of fine wood, and by making the altar alcove narrower and framing it with natural wood. Though very wealthy, Joh disliked ostentation and preferred an unpretentious setting with simple utensils. Takeno Joh's most outstanding disciple was Sen Rikyu (1522-91), who was already accomplished in the way of Tea when at nineteen he became a pupil of Joh.
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	Oda Nobunaga 1534-1582 Oda Nobunaga was the first individual to attempt to unify Japan at the end of the Sengoku (Warring States) period. Nobunaga's ultimate goal, though never realized during his lifetime, was to bring all of Japan "under a single sword". Like many others in the history of Japan, he rose from an obscure family from Nagoya through ruthless ambition to become one of the most powerful men in Japan. Perhaps one of Oda's most significant contributions to Japanese history, outside of laying the groundwork for the future unification of the country, was his eager embrace of Westerners. He very shrewdly embraced Western technology, especially firearms. Oda Nobunaga was the first Japanese to figure out both offensive and defensive tactics with the new weapons. Besides retraining his armies for new tactics, he also built massive castles that would resist the new firearms and was the first Japanese leader to employ iron-cladding on his warships, making them virtually unbeatable. In 1580, Sen no Rikyu became tea master for Nobunaga. Sen no Rikyu established the Japanese tea ceremony which Nobunaga popularized as a way to talk politics and business. Oda never succeeded in unifying the country; just as he was on the verge of success, he was assassinated by two of his own generals at the age of forty-eight.
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	Toyotomi Hideyoshi 1536/7?-1598 Toyotomi Hideyoshi was a daimyo (warlord) who is credited with unifying Japan. He succeeded his former liege lord, Oda Nobunaga, and brought an end to the Sengoku period (civil war period). The period of his rule is often called the Momoyama period. Besides Nobunaga, Hideyoshi is regarded as Japan's second "great unifier." Very little is known for certain about Hideyoshi's early life. It is unknown, for example, whether he was born on February 2, 1536, or on March 26, 1537. He was born in what is now Nakamura-ku, Nagoya (one of Nagoya's central wards/districts). He had no traceable samurai lineage, as he was the son of a peasant-warrior (of the farmer caste) named Yaemon. During his childhood, Hideyoshi had the nickname Saru, meaning "monkey." It is said they give him this nickname because he was known to act foolishly and climb trees. In 1582, Sen Rikyu became tea master for Toyotomi Hideyoshi, following the death of Oda Nobunaga. Three years later, at a tea gathering hosted by Hideyoshi for Emperor Ogimachi at the Imperial Palace, the Emperor bestowed upon Rikyu the Buddhist lay name Koji (an honorary title for a lay person who had lived as a pious faithful Buddhist). Rikyu was one of the most cherished and important retainers to Hideyoshi, who granted him large estates, and allowed him to preside over large and important tea ceremonies. Under Hideyoshi's patronage, Rikyu made significant changes to the aesthetics of the tea ceremony that had lasting influence over many aspects of Japanese culture. In February 1591, Hideyoshi ordered Sen no Rikyu to commit suicide. Even after Rikyu's death, Hideyoshi is said to have built many of his construction projects based upon principles of beauty promoted by Rikyu.
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	Matsudaira Fumai 1751-1818 Matsudaira Fumai is an important Edo Period tea practitioner from the daimyo (ruling) class. Matsudaira Fumai was the lord of Matsue castle in Izumo Province (in what is today Shimane Prefecture). At the start of his rise to power, the Matsue clan was in financial trouble, so he revolutionized the administrative system, helping the clan get back on its feet. With the new excess funds he now had to spare he formed a large collection of tea utensils. He studied chanoyu utensils vigorously, putting together the 'Kokon Meibutsu Ruiju' (Classified Collection of Famous Utensils of Ancient and Modern Times) in 18 volumes. In this work the shape and size of meibutsu (famous utensils) are described in great detail. He divided them into two main categories: omeibutsu (literally translated as 'great famous utensils'), and chukomeibutsu ('rediscovered famous utensils'). Fumai himself had a collection of tea utensils totaling about 800 as recorded in the Unshu Kuracho (official storage records). His utensils are today known as the Unshu Meibutsu and are highly cherished.
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