This volume was published in conjunction with the special exhibition “Sen no Rikyū: The 400th Memorial Exhibition” held at the Kyoto National Museum. The exhibition focuses on Sen no Rikyū’s foundational role in the development of wabi-cha—a style of tea ceremony rooted in simplicity and subtlety. The catalogue includes a rich collection of artifacts such as tea bowls, tea scoops, kettles, calligraphy, historical documents, and related artworks. It presents Rikyū’s life, his aesthetic of wabi and sabi, his interactions with powerful warlords such as Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and the profound cultural legacy he left behind. With detailed images and scholarly commentary, this book offers a comprehensive view of the tea culture of Rikyū’s era and his enduring architectural and artistic influence.
