page_title: Ichi-go ichi-e
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Ichi-go ichi-e / History
caption_attribution_description: a portrait by Tōhaku Hasegawa (長谷川等伯)(born in 1539 and dead in 1610), calligraphy by Sōen Shunoku (春屋 宗園)(born in 1529 and dead in 1611). Copied from http://www.omotesenke.com/image/04_p_01.jpg
context_page_description: Ichi-go ichi-e is a Japanese four-character idiom that describes a cultural concept of treasuring the unrepeatable nature of a moment. The term has been translated as "for this time only," and "once in a lifetime." The term reminds people to cherish any gathering that they may take part in, citing the fact that any moment in life cannot be repeated; even when the same group of people get together in the same place again, a particular gathering will never be replicated, and thus each moment is always a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The concept is most commonly associated with Japanese tea ceremonies, especially tea masters Sen no Rikyū and Ii Naosuke.
context_section_description: The term can be traced back to the 16th century to an expression by tea master Sen no Rikyū: "one chance in a lifetime" (一期に一度, ichigo ni ichido). Rikyū's apprentice Yamanoue Sōji instructs in Yamanoue Sōji Ki to give respect to your host "as though it were a meeting that could occur only once in the lifetime" (一期に一度の会のように, ichigo ni ichido no e no yō ni). Ichigo (一期) is a Buddhist term meaning "from one's birth to death", i.e. one's lifetime.
  Later, in the mid-19th century, Ii Naosuke, Tairō (chief administrator) of the Tokugawa shogunate, elaborated on the concept in Chanoyu Ichie Shū:
  Great attention should be given to a tea gathering, which we can speak of as "one time, one meeting" (ichigo, ichie). Even though the host and guests may see each other often socially, one day's gathering can never be repeated exactly. Viewed this way, the meeting is indeed a once-in-a-lifetime occasion. The host, accordingly, must in true sincerity take the greatest care with every aspect of the gathering and devote himself entirely to ensuring that nothing is rough. The guests, for their part, must understand that the gathering cannot occur again and, appreciating how the host has flawlessly planned it, must also participate with true sincerity. This is what is meant by "one time, one meeting."
  This passage established the yojijukugo (four-letter idiomatic) form ichi-go ichi-e (一期一会) known today.
caption: Sen no Rikyu
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