Enshūryu

The Enshū Sado School is one of the representative branches of tea ceremony in Japan. It was founded by Kobori Enshū, the tea master of the Tokugawa Shogunate during the reign of Tokugawa Ieyasu. Kobori Enshū’s relationships with contemporary Japanese craftsmen and the high class of the time were extensive. As the Lord of Fushimi in Kyoto, he was not only close to the Samurai class but also had strong ties with several aristocrats and the Emperor himself. He was also the first art director in Japan and a versatile artist, sometimes even referred to as the “Japanese Leonardo da Vinci”. Additionally, he was the head architect of Nagoya castle and a genius gardener. Among many other renowned imperial gardens, he designed the Sento gardens of the Imperial Palace in central Kyoto. His ceremonial style clearly mirrored his love for art and beauty. He was not only interested in Japanese art, but also in European, Chinese, Korean, and South-East Asian crafts and integrated various designs from overseas into his tea utensils. One of his important mottos was “Beauty in Practicality”.

Aesthetics is an important value in the Enshū School, which introduced the so-called “Kirei Sabi” philosophy, the concept of “beauty in simplicity”. They appreciate and practice luxurious yet sophisticated elements grounded in visual beauty, elegance, and harmony. The Enshū school also values education, bringing tea ceremony close to the young generation. They offer tea ceremony classes for children all over the world.

The head of the branch now is the 13th “Iemoto”, Grand Master Kobori Sōen, who emphasizes the importance of spirituality and personal development through the tea ceremony. As he said, "In our increasingly busy lives, we must remember to create small moments of leisure which help us to relax and expand our minds." His motto is “enriching the Mind through the Way of Tea."