Changes

Kiyotsugu, along with his brothers Michizumi and Nobumune, took over the [[Chaya family]] textile business following the 1603 death of their brother [[Chaya Shirojiro Kiyotada|Chaya Shirôjirô Kiyotada]]. They worked to monopolize the trade in raw silk, and served as official suppliers of a variety of goods to the shogunate. Kiyotsugu was assigned by [[Shogun]] [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] to help oversee shogunal operations at the formal trading post in [[Nagasaki]], where he could keep an eye on the foreign traders and Christian missionaries, while working to his own commercial benefit as well.

Kiyotsugu, along with his brothers Michizumi and Nobumune, took over the [[Chaya family]] textile business following the 1603 death of their brother [[Chaya Shirojiro Kiyotada|Chaya Shirôjirô Kiyotada]]. They worked to monopolize the trade in raw silk, and served as official suppliers of a variety of goods to the shogunate. Kiyotsugu was assigned by [[Shogun]] [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] to help oversee shogunal operations at the formal trading post in [[Nagasaki]], where he could keep an eye on the foreign traders and Christian missionaries, while working to his own commercial benefit as well.

A friend of artist [[Honami Koetsu|Honami Kôetsu]], Kiyotsugu was active socially in the Kyoto art world, and was known as both a patron of the arts in general, and a collector of [[chawan|tea bowls]] and other implements of the [[Japanese tea ceremony]].<ref>Though the Chaya family name literally means "[[chaya|teahouse]]", the family was famous as textile merchants, not for any major involvement in the production or trade of anything involving tea. Thus, Kiyotsugu's passion for tea implements, even if derived from his affection for his family name, is an academic curiosity.</ref>

A friend of artist [[Honami Koetsu|Honami Kôetsu]], Kiyotsugu was active socially in the Kyoto art world, and was known as both a patron of the arts in general, and a collector of [[chawan|tea bowls]] and other implements of the [[Japanese tea ceremony]].<ref>Though the Chaya family name literally means "[[chaya|teahouse]]", the family was famous as textile merchants, not for any major involvement in the production or trade of anything involving tea. Thus, Kiyotsugu's passion for tea implements, even if derived from his affection for his family name, is an academic curiosity, or mere coincidence.</ref>

Beginning in 1612, the family obtained official licenses (''[[red seal ships|shuin]]'') from the shogunate to outfit the ships trading with [[Annam]] (present-day [[Vietnam]]); these merchant vessels thus came to be known as ''chaya-sen'' (茶屋船, "Chaya ships").

Beginning in 1612, the family obtained official licenses (''[[red seal ships|shuin]]'') from the shogunate to outfit the ships trading with [[Annam]] (present-day [[Vietnam]]); these merchant vessels thus came to be known as ''chaya-sen'' (茶屋船, "Chaya ships").