Kitano Oocha no Yu

On October 1, 1587 (Tensho 15), Toyotomi Hideyoshi held a large tea ceremony at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kyoto. Prior to the ceremony, Hideyoshi, accompanied by Sen no Rikyu and Tsuda Sokyu, retreated to the altar and prayed for the success of the tea ceremony. The seven-point order issued in advance also strictly ordered connoisseurs from all over the country to participate in the tea ceremony, including an exhibition of the tools Hideyoshi owned, and stating that if anyone was passionate about tea, they could bring a kettle, a water jar, and a tea bowl, regardless of their rank or race, and that those without tea could bring their own teapots. The tea ceremony room was in the pine grove within the grounds of Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, so everyone should gather in a teahouse and enjoy the tea ceremony together. Hideyoshi's treasured tea utensils were displayed in the shrine's worship hall, and a golden tea room was placed in the center of the worship hall, with famous items displayed on either side. In front of it were four 4.5 tatami rooms where Hideyoshi, Rikyu, Soeki, and Imai Sokyu served as tea masters, and all of the decorations and utensils in each room were Hideyoshi's specialties. Court nobles such as Konoe Sakihisa (Ryozan) and his son, samurai of various ranks, and connoisseurs of tea ceremony visited one of the four rooms, and on this day Hideyoshi visited the tea rooms in the shrine grounds, and it is recorded that he enjoyed tea at the wabi-suki seats such as Ikka in Mino (Gifu Prefecture) and Hechikan in Yamashina (Yamashina Ward, Kyoto City). It is said that the number of connoisseurs' seats lined up in the pine grove was about 800 or 1,500 to 1,600. Incidentally, this tea ceremony was scheduled to last for ten days, but was suddenly canceled after just one day. It is said that this was due to an uprising that broke out in Higo (Kumamoto Prefecture), but there is also a theory that it was linked to political affairs, considering the circumstances before and after. However, the ceremony was originally intended to demonstrate Hideyoshi's might to the world, and given the intention of celebrating the victory of the Kyushu campaign and the establishment of a solid Toyotomi government, it can be said that this purpose was achieved. Incidentally, to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the Daichayu, a large tea ceremony was held at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine on October 1st and 2nd, 1936 (Showa 11). This was known as the "Showa Kitano Daichayu."

[Kouichi Tsutsui]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

1587年（天正15）10月1日、豊臣(とよとみ)秀吉が京都・北野天満宮で催した大茶会。開催に先だって、秀吉は千利休(せんのりきゅう)と津田宗及(そうきゅう)を伴い神前に参籠(さんろう)、茶会成就の祈願をしたという。また7か条からなる事前の沙汰(さた)書には、秀吉所持の道具を展観すること、茶の湯執心とあらば、その身分の上下、人種を問わず、釜(かま)一つ、釣瓶水指(つるべみずさし)、茶碗(ちゃわん)一つ、また茶のない者は焦(こが)しを持参するもよしとし、茶の湯の座敷は北野天満宮境内の松原であるから、それぞれ茶屋を囲って茶の湯の交歓をせよと、全国の数寄者(すきしゃ)にこの茶会への参加を厳命している。秀吉秘蔵の名物茶器類は神社の拝殿に展示されたが、拝殿の中央には黄金の茶室が置かれ、その左右に名物が飾られた。そしてその前面には秀吉、利休、宗及、今井宗久(そうきゅう)が茶頭役を務める四畳半四席が囲われ、それぞれの飾りや道具はすべて秀吉の名物であった。近衛前久(このえさきひさ)（龍山(りょうざん)）父子をはじめとする公家(くげ)や、大小名の武家および数寄者らはその四席のいずれかで拝服、この日秀吉は境内の茶室を回り、美濃(みの)（岐阜県）の一化(いっか)や山科(やましな)（京都市山科区）の丿貫(へちかん)などわび数寄の席を賞し、茶を楽しんだと記録に残る。また松原に並んだ数寄者の囲いは、約800とも1500～1600ともいわれる。ところでこの茶会は10日間が予定されていたが、突如1日で中止になった。肥後（熊本県）で一揆(いっき)が起こったためといわれるが、前後の状況をかんがみて政局と絡める説もある。しかし、もともとこの茶会は秀吉の威勢を天下に誇示するためのものであり、おりしも九州征討の戦勝祝いと、磐石(ばんじゃく)な豊臣政権確立を印象づける祝賀の意図からは、その目的は達せられたといってよい。なお、1936年（昭和11）10月1日、2日に大茶湯の350年目を記念して、北野天満宮で大茶会が催された。いわゆる「昭和北野大茶湯」がそれである。

［筒井紘一］

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