38. View of Sunsho-ro
Shunso-ro Tea Arbor
The Shunso-ro Tea Arbor is a three mat building which, in former times, adjoined the Gekka-den Hall. It was then called the "Kyuso-tei" (nine windowed arbor) because nine windows were set in it. It is a very old structure, said to have been designed by Urakusai Oda who died in the 7th year of Genna (1621). The stone pedestal of the sword-rack inside the arbor bears the name Inaba-san because it was brought from Mt Inaba in Gifu Prefecture. The stone hand-washing basin set in front of the arbor was brought from the Tenryu-ji Temple in Kyoto, where it was used by the noted priest Muso Kokushi. |
 39. Back side of the Shunso-ro |
40. Inside the Sunso-ro
Since a tea arbor must have the simplicity of a thatched cottage, it is built with the most fragile materials -- slender posts and thin boards. Such a building is therefore one of the most difficult to maintain. Great care must be taken to insure that its original shape is retained and that not even a small piece of old material is lost.
41. Inside the Sunso-ro