Omotesenke


Omotesenke is one of the schools of Japanese tea ceremony. Along with Urasenke and Mushakōjisenke, it is one of the three lines of the Sen family descending from Sen no Rikyū, which together are known as the san-Senke or "three Sen houses/families".
The name "Omotesenke", literally meaning "front Sen house/family," came into being as a natural occurrence, because of the location of the homestead of this line of the family in relation to that of the line of the family at what originally was the rear of the Sen estate. The name "Mushakōjisenke" for the other of the three lines of the family derives from the fact that the family's homestead is located along Mushakōji street.

History

The Omotesenke estate, known by the name of its representative tea room, the "Fushin-an", was where Sen no 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 Sen 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". Eventually, Sōtan's youngest son, Sensō Sōshitsu, inherited that part of the estate, which came to be known as the home of the Urasenke.
, central Japan

Style

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 both an untreated bamboo chasen and 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.

Levels

Licenses or permissions are called kyojō, menjō or sōden. They allow students to study certain tea procedures.
LicenseRequirementsNotes
Nyūmon and ryakutemae, basic light tea and thick tea and charcoal procedures and knowledge of Tea Ceremonystudents can apply for Nyūmon immediately or soon after starting their studies. Nyūmon and Naraigoto can be applied for at the same time.
Naraigoto daikazari, chasenkazari, kumiawasedate, shikumidate, nagao, bonkōgo, hanashomō, sumishomōstudents can apply for Nyūmon immediately or soon after starting their studies. Nyūmon and Naraigoto can be applied for at the same time.
Kazarimono jikukazari, tsubokazari, chairekazari, chawankazari, chashakukazari,-
Satsūbako procedures using the Satsūbako-
Karamono procedures using Chinese wares-tea name

-Kōshi
Daitenmoku procedures using the tenmokudai-
Bonten procedures using a square trayKyōju
Midarekazari procedures using a daisu-
Shindaisu 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 ; since they form the basis of temae, they must be acquired before a student begins making tea. They include:
;Basic tea room knowledge
;Fukusa
;Natsume
;Chashaku
;Hishaku
;Chasen
;Chakin
;Chawan

Headmasters

The hereditary name of the head of this line of the family is Sōsa.
GenerationPersonal nameBuddhist name
1stRikyu Sōeki 利休 宗易Hōsensai抛筌斎
2ndShōan Sōjun 少庵 宗淳
3rdGenpaku Sōtan 元伯 宗旦Totsutotsusai咄々斎
4thKōshin Sōsa 江岑 宗左Hōgensai逢源斎
5thRyōkyū Sōsa 良休 宗佐Zuiryūsai随流斎
6thGensō Sōsa 原叟 宗左Kakkakusai覚々斎
7thTen'nen Sōsa 天然 宗左Joshinsai如心斎
8thKen'ō Sōsa 件翁 宗左Sottakusai啐啄斎
9thKōshuku Sōsa 曠叔 宗左Ryōryōsai了々斎
10thShōō Sōsa 祥翁 宗左Kyūkōsai吸江斎
11thZuiō Sōsa 瑞翁 宗左Rokurokusai碌々斎
12thKeiō Sōsa 敬翁 宗左Seisai惺斎
13thMujin Sōsa 無盡 宗左Sokuchūsai即中斎
14thSōsa 宗左Jimyōsai而妙斎
15thSōsa 宗左Yūyūsai　猶有斎