Takeno Jōō

Place: Yamato (Now Nara Prefecture)

Born: 1502

Death: 1555

Biography:

Takeno Jōō (武野 紹鴎, 1502–1555) was a master of the tea ceremony and a well-known merchant during the Sengoku period of the 16th century in Japan. He was born in Yamato (now Nara prefecture) and began living in Kyoto in his 20s. At 27 years old, he studied classics and waka poetry under Sanjonishi Sanetaka, the most famous poet of his time. In 1532, he took the tonsure and came to be known as Jōō. He was extremely wealthy and was able to amass an impressive collection of classical works on the art of waka. In Kyoto city, chanoyu (the Japanese tea ceremony) had suddenly risen in prominence, and Jōō became interested in developing a style that was suited to the people's customs in Sakai rather than Kyoto. He was influenced by Sanjōnishi and his renga circle, as well as the Zen training that he underwent. He became reputed as the foremost chanoyu master in Sakai. He was the teacher of Sen no Rikyū, the most famous tea master in Japanese history. He died in 1555, leaving behind a son who was only six years old.