Shökö-kenn : a Daime Sukiya style Japanese tea-house

Abstract

Built in 1628 at the Koto-in temple in the precincts of Daitoku-ji monastery in Kyoto, the Shoko-ken is a late medieval daime sukiya Japanese tea-house. It is attributed to Hosokawa Tadaoki, also known as Hosokawa Sansai, an aristocrat and daimyo military leader, and a disciple and friend of Sen no Rikyti. The 'face' of a tea-house is a semantic innovation, a composite term combining the meanings of Japanese terms, sukiya, konomi,furyii and sakui. It is a term of identity and difference, emulation and individuality, contrast and continuity. It is argued that 'face' is a useful and perhaps necessary concept for the interpretation and understanding of sukiya architecture. The concept of 'face' is developed from the literature of sukiya architecture, using both historical and contemporary sources. It is applied to the measurement and comparative study of the Shoko-ken tea-house and its accompanying tea-garden in their present day form. A measured drawing of the Shoko-ken is compiled, following standard conventions of architectural representation. The face' of the tea-house is described in terms of topographical measurements, spatial organisation, components, materials, finishes, and in the case of the tea-garden, specialist details of the planting. These aspects of the architecture are compared with published records of other closely related daime sukiya tea-houses, in particular two designs that are almost identical by Sen no Rikyii and Furuta Oribe. The 'face' of the Shoko-ken emerges as being austere, refined, aristocratic, closely respectful of the wabi principles that were established by Sen no Rikyii, but at the same time innovative, reflecting the private life and household of the Hosokawa family. It is pointed out that the 'face' as measured may not accurately reflect Hosokawa Sansai's original contribution to the sukiya architectural form. Issues of authenticity are raised that potentially overshadow the study. The 'face' of the Shoko-ken may have been enhanced or indeed constructed in processes of restoration and maintenance that have been carried out since the late medieval period.