Japanese meaning of 一期百会
Reading:
いちごひゃくえ (ichigo hyakue)
English Translation:
A once-in-a-lifetime meeting leading to countless connections.
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
A once-in-a-lifetime meeting with countless connections and opportunities.
Cultural Context:
Derived from Zen and Confucian thought, expanding the concept of 一期一会 to emphasize the many connections (百会) stemming from a single encounter. Rarely used in casual speech today but appears in literary and ceremonial contexts.
一度の出会いから数多くの縁や機会が生まれること。
禅や儒教思想に由来し、一期一会の概念を広げ、一度の出会いから無数の縁（百会）が広がることを強調する表現。現代では日常会話では稀だが、文学や儀礼の場で使われる。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• Noun phrase often followed by “の精神” or “の態度” to express philosophy (“一期百会の精神”).
• Rare in modern usage; mostly poetic or ceremonial.
Trap for English Speakers
Might be confused with "一期一会"; meaning here is rarer and poetic.
Example
Basic Example
その会議は一期百会のように、多くの出会いが詰まっていた。
That conference felt like countless valuable encounters packed into one event.
Applied Example
一期百会の巡り合わせに、仲間たちは深く感謝した。
They were deeply grateful for the rare and fateful encounter — once in a hundred meetings.