Totsutotsusai
Totsutotsusai is an eight-tatami tearoom built by Gengensai. The name Totsutotsusai was one of Sotan's Buddhist
names. The toko (alcove) pillar is a log from a five-needled pine that the eighth grand master, Yugensai, had
planted at Daitokuji. The baseboard and lintel of the toko are made of ivy wood that Gengensai received from the
Hisamatsu family of Iyo Matsuyama (present-day Shikoku). The ceiling is crafted of old pine planks from Daitokuji.
These were mounted in alternating directions forming a pattern called ichi kuzushi, variations on the Chinese
character for "one." The auxiliary alcove features a large, exposed reed-lattice window. Totsutotsusai is used
for the first tea gathering of the year (Hatsugama) and other Urasenke observances. The grand master also serves
his personal guests here, and many royal visitors, world leaders, and other distinguished personages have been
served tea in this room.
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