Sen no Rikyū strongly shaped the wabi style of Japanese tea ceremony under samurai patronage.
Born in Sakai, Rikyū became the most influential tea master associated with the late 16th century. He served the warlords Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, linking tea practice with the political and cultural world of powerful samurai leaders.
Rikyū emphasized simplicity, restraint, natural materials, and intimate gatherings. His ideals are often summarized through the concept of wabi, which values quietness and austere beauty rather than lavish display. Small tea rooms and modest utensils could express refinement more powerfully than expensive objects.
Rikyū’s relationship with Hideyoshi eventually ended in a fatal order for him to commit suicide in 1591. His descendants later established major tea schools, including the Omotesenke, Urasenke, and Mushakōjisenke traditions. His influence remains central to Japanese tea culture.