Sōhenryu

The founder of Sōhen Tea Ceremony School is Yamada Sōhen, who learned tea from the grandson of Sen no Rikyū, Sen no Sōtan. Sōtan, a strict and ascetic monk had a big impact on Sōhen’s character development and ceremonial style. Despite Sōhen coming from a samurai family, himself being highly educated and trained to be a samurai, he had to do all kinds of physical labor from cleaning to chopping firewood for his master. He received a strict education and came to value the main principles of Rikyū’s “Wabi cha” - simplicity and accessibility - an unadorned way of serving tea, which is not only available for the privileged few but everyone.

Contemporary lords from the Edo Shogunate, who became tired of the pompous Edo luxury, welcomed and cherished him. Sōhen despite being born in Kyoto, decided to move to Edo (now Tokyo) and spread the Way of Tea in a land where high culture was not yet as well established as in Kyoto. Sōhen is the first person in the history of Sado who wrote a textbook on tea ceremony for beginners.

The head of the school now is the 11th “Iemoto”, Grand Master, Yuyusai Yamada Sōhen. He received his education in London and with his German and English-speaking wife, they welcome guests from all over the world and contribute a lot to spreading Sōhenryu School’s Way of Tea. The spirit of Rikyū is reflected in their motto “Remove all distractions, sharpen your senses, find your true self, and become one with Nature.'