Sen no Rikyu, known as the "tea saint," was born into a merchant family in Sakai in 1522. He inherited "wabicha" (tea ceremony) from Takeno Shaowo, and developed the unique Japanese tea ceremony to a great extent during the Momoyama period. Rikyu was active in politics as a tea master (a profession specializing in serving tea) for Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who used the tea ceremony at that time. His descendants continue as the Sanzenke, a family of tea masters, and have had a significant influence on the modern tea ceremony.

After being devastated by the Onin War, the temple was rebuilt by Ikkyu Soujun with the help of a wealthy merchant from Sakai. It is said that Murata Jukou, who is regarded as the founder of wabicha, received Zen training under Ikkyu Sojun. Wabicha was passed down from Murata Juko to Takeno Shaowo, a Sakai merchant, and was perfected by Sen no Rikyu, a disciple of Shaowo. Rikyu, who was supported by Nobunaga and Hideyoshi, was a rare tea master who had many disciples, and his descendants, the Sanzenke (Omotesenke, Urasenke, and Mushanokoji Senke), continue to transmit the culture of wabicha today. Take a walk in the spacious precincts of the temple, imagining that Rikyu might have walked in this area.

The predecessor of this temple was Koumeian, which was built by Oda Nobunaga in 1562 to hold a memorial service for his father, Nobuhide. After Nobunaga was killed in the Honnoji Incident, the temple was enlarged by Toyotomi Hideyoshi and rebuilt by Kobayakawa Takakage, and renamed Koumei-in Temple in 1589. The highlight of Koumei-in Temple is the "Jikichu-tei" garden, which is said to have been created by Sen no Rikyu. In the moss-filled karesansui (dry landscape) garden, there is a pond in the shape of a gourd, which Toyotomi Hideyoshi desired, and on the left side of the pond, you can see a Korean lantern brought back by Kato Kiyomasa. What you feel when you face the space that stretches to the south of the Shoin is what you really feel now. I would like to savor the time to face my honest heart in the "Naochu-no-niwa.

In addition to the "Shoku-chu-no-niwa," there is also a reproduction of a wall painting by Ungoku Togan, a representative painter of the Momoyama period and an official painter of the Mori family; a ha-totei garden composed of Shirakawa sand and moss; a kuri, the oldest Zen temple in Japan, which functions as a kitchen; and sophisticated architecture and art. The temple's abbot, Kobayashi Taikenji, is known as an excellent calligrapher, and his calligraphy can be seen throughout the temple halls. Don't forget to bring your own red seal book, as the seals are also written by Kobayashi Taikenji. (In his absence, a red seal is left on the table.)