WEBSen no Rikyū by Hasegawa Tōhaku. Sen no Rikyū (千利休, 1522 – April 21, 1591), also known simply as Rikyū, is considered the historical figure with the most profound influence on chanoyu, the Japanese "Way of Tea", particularly the tradition of wabi-cha.He was also the first to emphasize several key aspects of the ceremony, including rustic simplicity, directness of approach and ...