Omotesenke
Encyclopedia
is the name of one of the three houses or families (家) that count their family founder as Sen Rikyū and are dedicated to carrying forward the Way of Tea
that he developed. The other two are Urasenke
and Mushakōjisenke. The three are together referred to as the san-Senke (三千家; lit, "three Sen houses/families"). The hereditary name of the head (iemoto
) of this line of the family is Sōsa.
The Omotesenke estate, known by the name of its representative tea room
, the "Fushin-an" (不審庵), was where Sen Rikyū's son-in-law, Sen Shōan, reestablished the Kyoto
Sen household after Rikyū's death. It is located on Ogawa street in the Kamigyō ward
of Kyoto. Shōan's son Sōtan soon succeeded as the family heir and head of this estate. The next heir to the estate and family tradition was Sōtan's third son, Kōshin Sōsa, counted as the fourth generation in the Omotesenke family line. Sōtan, when he was ready to retire and gave the headship of the family over to Kōshin Sōsa, established his retirement quarters on adjacent property in the north, building a tiny tea room there, the "Konnichi-an" (今日庵）. Eventually, Sōtan's youngest son, Sensō Sōshitsu, inherited that part of the estate, which came to known as the home of the Urasenke.
There are small stylistic differences between the different schools
. For example, the Omotesenke school whisks the tea less than the Urasenke school, creating less foam on the top of the tea. Also, Omotesenke uses a susudake chasen, or darkened-bamboo tea whisk, while Urasenke uses untreated bamboo for its chasen or tea whisk.
The Fushin-an estate, where the 3rd generation, Sōtan, lived until retirement, is the home and headquarters of Omotesenke.
The Kitayama Kaikan in Kyoto is a relatively modern Omotesenke facility, where Omotesenke sponsors exhibitions, lectures, and other educational programs for the general public.
Basic tea room knowledge
Fukusa
Natsume
Chashaku
Hishaku
Chasen
Chakin
Chawan
Japanese tea ceremony
The Japanese tea ceremony, also called the Way of Tea, is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha, powdered green tea. In Japanese, it is called . The manner in which it is performed, or the art of its performance, is called...
that he developed. The other two are Urasenke
Urasenke
is the name of one of the main schools of Japanese tea ceremony. It is one of the san-Senke ; the other two are Omotesenke and Mushakōjisenke....
and Mushakōjisenke. The three are together referred to as the san-Senke (三千家; lit, "three Sen houses/families"). The hereditary name of the head (iemoto
Iemoto
Iemoto is a Japanese term used to refer to the founder or current head master of a certain school of traditional Japanese art...
) of this line of the family is Sōsa.
The Omotesenke estate, known by the name of its representative tea room
Chashitsu
In Japanese tradition, architectural spaces designed to be used for tea ceremony gatherings are known as chashitsu ....
, the "Fushin-an" (不審庵), was where Sen Rikyū's son-in-law, Sen Shōan, reestablished the Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
Sen household after Rikyū's death. It is located on Ogawa street in the Kamigyō ward
Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto
is one of the eleven wards in the city of Kyoto, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Located in the center of the present-day city of Kyoto, Japan it previously occupied the northern region of the ancient capital of Kyoto. The Kamo River flows on the eastern border of the ward...
of Kyoto. Shōan's son Sōtan soon succeeded as the family heir and head of this estate. The next heir to the estate and family tradition was Sōtan's third son, Kōshin Sōsa, counted as the fourth generation in the Omotesenke family line. Sōtan, when he was ready to retire and gave the headship of the family over to Kōshin Sōsa, established his retirement quarters on adjacent property in the north, building a tiny tea room there, the "Konnichi-an" (今日庵）. Eventually, Sōtan's youngest son, Sensō Sōshitsu, inherited that part of the estate, which came to known as the home of the Urasenke.
There are small stylistic differences between the different schools
Schools of Japanese tea ceremony
"Schools of Japanese tea ceremony" refers to the various lines or "streams" of the Japanese Way of Tea. The word "schools" here is an English rendering of the Japanese term ryūha .-san-Senke:...
. For example, the Omotesenke school whisks the tea less than the Urasenke school, creating less foam on the top of the tea. Also, Omotesenke uses a susudake chasen, or darkened-bamboo tea whisk, while Urasenke uses untreated bamboo for its chasen or tea whisk.
The Fushin-an estate, where the 3rd generation, Sōtan, lived until retirement, is the home and headquarters of Omotesenke.
The Kitayama Kaikan in Kyoto is a relatively modern Omotesenke facility, where Omotesenke sponsors exhibitions, lectures, and other educational programs for the general public.
Licenses and course of study
Licenses or permissions are called kyojō (許状), menjō (免状) or sōden (相伝). They allow students to study certain tea procedures.| License | Requirements | students can apply for Nyūmon immediately or soon after starting their studies. Nyūmon and Naraigoto can be applied for at the same time. |
|---|---|---|
| Naraigoto (習事 things to learn) | kumiawasedate, shikumidate, nagao, bonkōgo, hanashomō, sumishomō | |
| Kazarimono (飾物 display) | jikukazari, tsubokazari, chairekazari, chawankazari, chashakukazari, daikazari, chasenkazari | |
| Satsūbako (茶通箱 tea box) | procedures using the Satsūbako | |
| Karamono (唐物 Chinese ware) | procedures using Chinese wares | |
| Daitenmoku (台天目) | procedures using the tenmokudai | |
| Bonten (盆点) | procedures using a square tray | Kyōju (教授 professor) |
| Midarekazari (乱飾) | procedures using a daisu | |
| Shindaisu (真台子 formal tana) | procedures using a formal daisu |
Warigeiko
The first skills a student in any Tea school learns are the warigeiko, literally divided or separate training. The warigeiko are skills practiced separately from actual temae (tea or charcoal procedures); since they form the basis of temae, they must be acquired before a student begins making tea. They include:Basic tea room knowledge
- opening and closing sliding doors; walking in the tea room; how and where to sit; how and when to bow; basic guest behaviour including use of fans
Fukusa
- folding, opening and handling the fukusa
Natsume
- the natsume is the first type of tea container students learn to use. Skills include how to fill the container with tea; how to pick it up, hold it, and put it down; how to purify it
Chashaku
- how to handle and purify the tea scoop
Hishaku
- how to handle the ladle; special movements for hot and cold water
Chasen
- how to handle the tea whisk; how to whisk tea
Chakin
- how to fold the tea cloth; how to use it to clean the tea bowl
Chawan
- how to handle the tea bowl as both a host and a guest
Generations
| Generation | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Rikyu Sōeki Sen no Rikyu , is considered the historical figure with the most profound influence on chanoyu, the Japanese "Way of Tea", particularly the tradition of wabi-cha... (1522-1591) |
利休 宗易 | Hōsensai | 抛筌斎 |
| 2nd | Shōan Sōjun (1546-1614) | 少庵 宗淳 | ||
| 3rd | Genpaku Sōtan (1578-1658) | 元伯 宗旦 | Totsutotsusai | 咄々斎 |
| 4th | Kōshin Sōsa (1613-1672) | 江岑 宗左 | Hōgensai | 逢源斎 |
| 5th | Ryōkyū Sōsa (1650-1691) | 良休 宗佐 | Zuiryūsai | 随流斎 |
| 6th | Gensō Sōsa (1678-1730) | 原叟 宗左 | Kakkakusai | 覚々斎 |
| 7th | Ten'nen Sōsa (1705-1751) | 天然 宗左 | Joshinsai | 如心斎 |
| 8th | Ken'ō Sōsa (1744-1808) | 件翁 宗左 | Sottakusai | 啐啄斎 |
| 9th | Kōshuku Sōsa (1775-1825) | 曠叔 宗左 | Ryōryōsai | 了々斎 |
| 10th | Shōō Sōsa (1818-60) | 祥翁 宗左 | Kyūkōsai | 吸江斎 |
| 11th | Zuiō Sōsa (1837-1910) | 瑞翁 宗左 | Rokurokusai | 碌々斎 |
| 12th | Keiō Sōsa (1863-1937) | 敬翁 宗左 | Seisai | 惺斎 |
| 13th | Mujin Sōsa (1901-1979) | 無盡 宗左 | Sokuchūsai | 即中斎 |
| 14th (current iemoto) | Sōsa (1938-) | 宗左 | Jimyōsai | 而妙斎 |
See also
- UrasenkeUrasenkeis the name of one of the main schools of Japanese tea ceremony. It is one of the san-Senke ; the other two are Omotesenke and Mushakōjisenke....
- Mushakōjisenke
- Japanese tea ceremonyJapanese tea ceremonyThe Japanese tea ceremony, also called the Way of Tea, is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha, powdered green tea. In Japanese, it is called . The manner in which it is performed, or the art of its performance, is called...
- Schools of Japanese tea ceremonySchools of Japanese tea ceremony"Schools of Japanese tea ceremony" refers to the various lines or "streams" of the Japanese Way of Tea. The word "schools" here is an English rendering of the Japanese term ryūha .-san-Senke:...
External links
- Omotesenke Website (English)
- http://omote-usa.org the website of Omotesenke tea ceremony practice in Florida, USA