His style further developed Rikyu's wabicha, and he considered tea to be a frugal art and went through beggar's training, which earned him the name "Kojiki Sotan" ("the beggar Sotan").
茶風は祖父利休のわび茶をさらに徹底させ、ために乞食修行を行っているように清貧であるという意味から、『乞食宗旦』と呼ばれたという。