Glossary · culture

Ichi-go ichi-e (一期一会)

Tea phrase meaning one time, one meeting, marking each gathering as unrepeatable.

What ichi-go ichi-e means

Ichi-go ichi-e is most often translated as one time, one meeting and is associated with the tea master Ii Naosuke and earlier with disciples of Sen no Rikyu. In chanoyu it reminds host and guest that this exact gathering, with these people and this season, will not occur again. Urasenke teachings use it to frame the care given to every detail of a tea, from the choice of chawan to the timing of the kettle. The phrase has since spread well beyond the tea room into general Japanese aesthetics.

Also called

Ichi-go ichi-e also appears as one time one meeting.

Related terms

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