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Kian

1566 – 1653

Japanese tea master and priest

Tea masterDiplomat Politician
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About Kian

Lived 1566 – 1653 (aged 87). Kian was a tea master, diplomat and politician.

was a Japanese tea master and priest who was active in the Ryukyu Kingdom. In Ryukyuan history records, his full name was or . He is best known for his diary, the , which chronicled the 1609 Invasion of Ryukyu.

Kian was born in Sakai, Izumi Province, Japan. He studied tea ceremony from Kōin , a disciple of Sen no Rikyū. Later, he learned Waka and Classical Chinese poetry.

Kian came to Ryukyu at the age of 35. He enjoyed a widespread reputation there and several years later he was appointed Chamberlain of the palace and was given the Chinese style surname.

In the spring of 1609, Satsuma Domain invaded Ryukyu and captured the strategically important Nakijin Castle. Kian went there to request a peace negotiation together with a Buddhist monk named Kikuin, but they were arrested by Satsuma troops. After the war, he was taken to Kagoshima together with King Shō Nei and a number of high officials by Satsuma troops. After Shō Nei returned to Ryukyu, Kian was appointed "imperial tea master" .

Kian wrote a Gunki monogatari called during King Shō Hō's reign. It is a very important account of Satsuma's invasion.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Tea master, diplomat, politician

People in Kian's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Kian's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Kian?

Japanese tea master and priest

When was Kian born?

Kian was born on 20 January 1566 in Sakai.

When did Kian die?

Kian died on 10 August 1653 in Shuri Castle.

What was Kian's occupation?

Kian was a tea master, diplomat and politician.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Kian

· Wikidata: Q10923573

· DBpedia: Kian (tea master)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Kian. https://biography.guide/kian-tea-master/

MLA: "Kian." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/kian-tea-master/.

Chicago: "Kian." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/kian-tea-master/.

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