Kian (tea master), Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

Kian (tea master)

Japanese tea master and priest

Date of Birth: 20-Jan-1566

Place of Birth: Sakai, Ōsaka Prefecture, Japan

Date of Death: 10-Aug-1653

Profession: politician, diplomat, tea master

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Kian (??, 20 January 1566 – 10 August 1653) was a Japanese tea master and priest who was active in the Ryukyu Kingdom.
In Ryukyuan history records, his full name was Bin-shi Kian Nyudo Bangen (?? ???? ??) or Bin-shi Kian Ueekata Bangen (?? ?? ?? ??).
He is best known for his diary, the Kian Nikki (????), which chronicled the 1609 Invasion of Ryukyu.Kian was born in Sakai, Izumi Province, Japan.
He studied tea ceremony from Koin (??), a disciple of Sen no Rikyu.
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, Bin (?). 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 Sho Nei and a number of high officials by Satsuma troops.
After Sho Nei returned to Ryukyu, Kian was appointed "imperial tea master" (???). Kian wrote a Gunki monogatari called Kian Nikki (????, "Kian Diary") during King Sho Ho's reign.
It is a very important account of Satsuma's invasion.