Furuichi Chōin facts for kids

Furuichi Chōin (1452–1508), also known as Furuichi Harima, was a Japanese lord who lived during a time of many wars called the Sengoku period. He was very interested in the tea ceremony, which is known as cha-no-yu in Japan.

Who Was Furuichi Chōin?

Furuichi Chōin was a local ruler, or daimyō, of a small town called Furuichi, near Nara. His family was well-known for supporting artists and different types of art. Chōin was also a dedicated student of the tea ceremony.

Early Life and Studies

When Chōin was 13 years old, he was sent to study at the Kōfuku-ji temple. He started as an acolyte, which means he helped with religious duties. After ten years, he became a leader of a group of warrior monks. These were monks who also trained and fought as soldiers.

Master of Tea and Poetry

Chōin was a student of Murata Jukō, a famous master of the tea ceremony. Jukō even wrote a special letter about the tea ceremony just for Chōin. This letter was called Kokoro no fumi, which means "Letter of the heart."

Chōin also loved poetry. He received an essay about writing renga poetry from Inawashiro Kensai. Renga is a type of linked verse poetry where different poets take turns writing parts of a poem.

Chōin and his brother Chōei also created a unique way to enjoy the tea ceremony. They combined it with communal bathing, calling this practice rinkan chanoyu. This showed their creative approach to traditional arts.