Ryuseiken "Shelter of Restful Spirit"
The six-tatami Ryuseiken normally functions as the hall outside of the Kan'untei tearoom. It is used as a
tearoom only on New Year's Eve, to serve tea to guests who stop by to pay their respects. Afterwards, the
charcoal remaining in the hearth is buried in the ash and left to smolder until morning. The embers are used
to start the fire for the preparation of the Obukucha "Great Prosperity Tea," which is offered before the
statue of Rikyu. The water used for this tea is a mixture of water from the Ume-no-i "Plum Well" and water
from the kettle which was left simmering on the hearth from the night before.
At the far end of the tatami where the tea is made, there is an exposed
reed-lattice window. The handles of old bamboo ladles have been woven into the lattice.
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