Ichi-go ichi-e

2 Intepretation and usage

Ichi-go ichi-e (one time, one meeting) is a

Japanese four-character idiom (yojijukugo) that describes
a cultural concept of treasuring meetings with people.
The term is often translated asfor this time only,
never
again,orone chance in a lifetime.The term reminds
people to cherish any gathering that they may take part in,
citing the fact that many meetings in life are not repeated.
Even when the same group of people can get together
again, a particular gathering will never be replicated and
thus, each moment is always once-in-a-lifetime.* [1] The
concept is most commonly associated with Japanese tea
ceremonies, especially tea masters Sen no Riky and Ii
Naosuke.

Ichi-go ichi-e is linked with Zen Buddhism and concepts

of transience. The term is particularly associated with the
Japanese tea ceremony, and is often brushed onto scrolls
which are hung in the tea room.
The term is also much repeated in bud (martial ways).
It is sometimes used to admonish students who become
careless or frequently stop techniques midway to try
again,rather than moving on with the technique despite
the mistake. In a life-or-death struggle, there is no chance
totry again.Even though techniques may be attempted
many times in the dojo, each should be seen as a singular and decisive event. Similarly, in noh theater, performances are only rehearsed together once, a few days before the show, rather than the many times that are typical in the West, this corresponding to the transience of a
given show.

History

The term can be traced back to the 16th century to an

expression by tea master Sen no Riky: one chance in
a lifetime( ichigo ni ichido).* [2] Riky's
3 In popular culture
apprentice Yamanoue Sji instructs in Yamanoue Sji Ki
to give respect to your hostas though it were a meeting
that could occur only once( Romanian conductor Sergiu Celibidache's focus was on
creating, during each concert, the optimal conditions for
ichigo ni ichido no e no y ni).* [3]
a what he called a transcendent experience. Aspects
Later, in the mid-19th century, Ii Naosuke, Tair (chief of Zen Buddhism, such as ichi-go ichi-e, were strongly
administrator) of the Tokugawa Shogunate, elaborated on inuential on him. The 1994 movie Forrest Gump was
the concept in Chanoyu Ichie Sh:* [1]
released in Japan with this term in the subtitle as Forrest
Gump/Ichi-go Ichi-e (/
), reecting the events that happen in the movie.* [4]
Great attention should be given to a tea
The term is Hiro Nakamura's favorite phrase in the NBC
gathering, which we can speak of as one
series Heroes.* [5] The term is used in an episode of the
time, one meeting(ichigo, ichie). Even though
anime, Azumanga Daioh. It is also a song title in the
the host and guests may see each other often
soundtrack of Kareshi Kanojo no Jijo. The term is used in
socially, one day's gathering can never be reseveral episodes of TBS's Hana Yori Dango. It is also refpeated exactly. Viewed this way, the meeting
erenced in the title of the Kishi Bashi album 151a, which
is indeed a once-in-a-lifetime occasion. The
read in Japanese is pronounced ichi-go-ichi .
host, accordingly, must in true sincerity take
the greatest care with every aspect of the gathering and devote himself entirely to ensuring
4 References
that nothing is rough. The guests, for their part,
must understand that the gathering cannot oc[1] Ii, Naosuke (1858). Chanoyu Ichie Sh [Collection on the
cur again and, appreciating how the host has
Oneness of Chanoyu].
awlessly planned it, must also participate with
true sincerity. This is what is meant by one
[2] Omotesenke (2005). Chanoyu Glossary. Japanese
time, one meeting.* [3]
Tea Culture. Retrieved 2014-10-26.
[3] Varley, H. Paul; Kumakura, Isao (1989). Tea in Japan:
Essays on the History of Chanoyu. University of Hawaii
Press. p. 187. ISBN 9780824817176.

This passage established the yojijukugo (four-letter idiomatic) form ichi-go ichi-e () known today.
1

[4] Abe, Namiko.Movie Titles in Japanese(2)". About.com

Japanese Language. Retrieved 2014-10-27.
[5] Hiro's Blog

REFERENCES

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

5.1

Text

Ichi-go ichi-e Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichi-go_ichi-e?oldid=698038747 Contributors: Steinsky, Sabbut, Yas~enwiki, Exploding Boy, Revth, Fg2, , LindsayH, Ricky81682, LOL, DannyWilde, Mitsukai, Rikoshi, Gdrbot, R1ngu, Moe Epsilon, Caerwine,
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5.2

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5.3

Content license

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