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Urasenke (裏千家) is one of the mainschools of Japanese tea ceremony. Along withOmotesenke andMushakōjisenke, it is one of the three lines of theSen family descending fromSen no Rikyū, which together are known as thesan-Senke or the "threeSen houses/families" (三千家).[1]
The name"Urasenke", literally meaning "rearSen house/family", came into existence due to the location of the homestead of this line of theSen family in relation to what was originally the frontmost house (theomote) of theSen estate.[2] The other main schools of Japanese tea ceremony,Omotesenke andMushakōjisenke, also follow this naming convention, with the former meaning "frontSen house/family", and the latter derived from the street name of the family's homestead,Mushakōji.
The threeSen houses derive from descendants ofSen no Rikyū, who was active during theAzuchi-Momoyama period and is the most historically important figure within Japanese tea ceremony.
Rikyū's hometown wasSakai, in the province ofIzumi (in present-dayOsaka prefecture). However, as his activities became centered inKyoto, he kept a house in Kyoto. He also had his adopted son-in-law,Sen Shōan, who was married to his daughterOkame, move fromSakai to Kyoto, leaving his natural son,Sen Dōan, to tend the family home and business inSakai. This represents the origin of the two branches of theSen family (Senke) referred to as theSakai-Senke andKyō-Senke.
TheKyō-Senke, headed bySen Shōan, eventually settled in a house located onOgawa Street, in the neighborhood ofHonpō-ji temple; the house and property representing the originalSen estate in Kyoto. Following the death ofRikyū, bothSen Dōan of theSakai-Senke andSen Shōan of theKyō-Senke, inevitably caught up in the wrath ofToyotomi Hideyoshi which had been the reason forRikyū's self-immolation, were in danger of also losing their lives, and so, to protect their homes and families, they went into hiding. After a number of months, however, both were able to return home.
Sen Dōan, still living inSakai, left no successors to carry on theSakai-Senke. Sen Shōan, however, upon returning home to Kyoto, already had a son born of himself andOkame,Sen Sōtan, to succeed him as head of theKyō-Senke.[3]
Sōtan had five offspring: the elder two,Kan'ō Sōsetsu (?-1652) andIchiō Sōshū (1605-1676), were his sons born of his first wife. However, following her death,Sōtan remarried, having two sons (Kōshin Sōsa (1613-1672) andSensō Sōshitsu (1622-1697)) and a daughter (Kure, dates unknown) by his second wife. His first and second sons,Kan'ō Sōsetsu andIchiō Sōshū, began living independently when they were young men, with his fourth son,Sensō Sōshitsu, also leaving the family as a young man to train as an apprentice under a local doctor namedNoma Gentaku. Due to the untimely death ofGentaku, however,Sensō returned home in 1645, and thereafter, with his fatherSōtan's support, trained as achanoyu expert, similarly to his older brother,Kōshin Sōsa, the heir to the family.
Around the year 1646, whenSōtan was roughly 68 years old, he gave up his headship of the family toKōshin Sōsa, and moved into quarters which had been built at the rear of the house, including a tiny tea hut known as the Konnichian (今日庵,"Hut of This Day").[4]Sōtan's retirement quarters becameSensō's home base, withSensō eventually becoming heir to the property.
Sōtan found employment for his eldest son,Ichiō Sōshū, with theMaeda clan of theKaga domain, butIchiō soon quit his position with theMaeda, leading toSōtan disinheritingIchiō. Sōtan's second son,Kan'ō Sōsetsu, had in contrast been adopted by theYoshioka family in Kyoto, known for specialising in lacquerware under their business name ofYoshimonjiya. During this period,Kan'ō went by the nameYoshioka Kan'uemon. In his later life, however,Kan'ō returned to theSen family, establishing a tea room named "Kankyuan" at his residence onMushakōji street, and retrained as achanoyu expert. With this, the direct descendants ofSen no Rikyū branched into the three lines of both theSen family and schools of tea ceremony known as thesan-Senke today.[5]
Before theMeiji Restoration (1868), the heads of the three families served aschadō magistrates under variousdaimyō, respectively receiving a yearly stipend from them as payment for their services.Sensō Sōshitsu, fourth son of the family and leader of the branch that would eventually be known as theUrasenke, served theMaeda clan ofKaga. In generations following this, the head of theUrasenke family also served as achadō magistrate for theHisamatsu clan of theIyo domain (present dayEhime Prefecture), as well as serving as caretaker to the clan's Kyoto residence. The eleventh generation head of the family,Gengensai (1810–77), born as the fifth son of a minordaimyō namedMatsudaira Noritomo of theMikawa Okudono domain, married into theUrasenke family, whilst also serving theOwari branch of theTokugawa family. However, following the fall of theTokugawa shogunate in 1868, thedaimyō lost their positions, and the hereditary stipends which the threeSen families had been receiving came to an end. It was after this, and the loss of their positions serving thedaimyō, that theSen families established theiriemoto system.[6]
The entire historicalUrasenke estate, located in theKamigyō-ku ward of Kyoto, is referred to by the name of its representative tea room, theKonnichian.
All three major schools of Japanese tea ceremony share their first three generations of headmasters, known as theiemoto.Sen no Rikyū is their mutual first generation and family founder (祖), with his adopted son-in-law,Sen Shōan as their shared second generationiemoto, andSen Shōan's son,Sen Sōtan, as their shared third generationiemoto.
From the fourth generation onwards, the three family lineages divide, with the heads of each family carrying theprofessional hereditary name used by the successive heads of their respective family. Upon succession to the position ofiemoto of theUrasenke family and its school ofchadō, the newiemoto assumes the professional name ofSōshitsu, and is officially referred to asSen Sōshitsu. The current head of theUrasenke school of tea isZabōsai Genmoku Sōshitsu, the 16th generation of the family, and is referred to asSen Sōshitsu XVI.
| Generation | name | religious pseudonym | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Rikyū Sōeki (1522–91) | 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 | Sensō Sōshitsu (1622–97) | 仙叟 宗室 | Rōgetsuan | 臘月庵 |
| 5th | Jōsō Sōshitsu (1673-1704) | 常叟 宗室 | Fukyūsai | 不休斎 |
| 6th | Taisō Sōshitsu (1694-1726) | 泰叟 宗室 | Rikkansai | 六閑斎 |
| 7th | Chikusō Sōshitsu (1709–33) | 竺叟 宗室 | Saisaisai | 最々斎 |
| 8th | Ittō Sōshitsu (1719–71) | 一燈 宗室 | Yūgensai | 又玄斎 |
| 9th | Sekiō Sōshitsu (1746-1801) | 石翁 宗室 | Fukensai | 不見斎 |
| 10th | Hakusō Sōshitsu (1770-1826) | 柏叟 宗室 | Nintokusai | 認得斎 |
| 11th | Seichū Sōshitsu (1810–77) | 精中 宗室 | Gengensai | 玄々斎 |
| 12th | Jikishō Sōshitsu (1852-1917) | 直叟 宗室 | Yūmyōsai | 又玅斎 |
| 13th | Tetchū Sōshitsu (1872-1924) | 鉄中 宗室 | Ennōsai | 圓能斎 |
| 14th | Sekisō Sōshitsu (1893-1964) | 碩叟 宗室 | Mugensai | 無限斎 |
| 15th | Hansō Sōshitsu (Sen Genshitsu) (b. April 19, 1923) | 汎叟 宗室 | Hōunsai | 鵬雲斎 |
| 16th (currentiemoto) | Genmoku Sōshitsu (b. June 7, 1956) | 玄黙 宗室 | Zabōsai | 坐忘斎 |
The Urasenke Foundation (Ippan Zaidan Hōjin Konnichian (一般財団法人今日庵)) is an incorporated foundation originally registered by the Japanese government in 1949, during the era of the 14th generation grand master ofUrasenke, Tantansai. Its stated purpose is to preserve and foster the cultural heritage ofUrasenke, with its activities including the maintenance and management of theUrasenke estate and cultural assets, and the support of research and public education regarding the study of tea ceremony.[7]
Its administrative office, together with that of theUrasenke Tankōkai Federation, is located within the five storyUrasenke Center building located a short distance west of the historicalUrasenke compound.
The Urasenke Tokyo Branch (Urasenke Tokyo Dōjō (裏千家東京道場)) was originally established in 1957 in Tokyo'sChiyoda ward, moving to its present quarters in theIchigaya Kaga-cho section of Tokyo'sShinjuku ward in 1995. ThisUrasenke facility serves as the hub of the activities sponsored by theUrasenke head house in Japan's capital. Various training courses and special events held atUrasenke Konnichian are also held here, for the convenience of participants living in Eastern Japan. The main building contains replicas of theTotsutotsusai andKan’untei tea rooms atKonnichian.[8] TheUrasenke Tokyo Branch is the onlyUrasenke branch in Japan.
From the mid-1960s onwards,Sen Sōshitsu XV (Hōunsai) began to dispatch qualifiedUrasenkechanoyu instructors to live overseas and, operating out ofUrasenke Foundation branch offices or liaison offices, to teach the growing numbers of individuals who desired to pursue the practice ofchado.[9] The dates and places to which the teachers were dispatched and thus anUrasenke branch or liaison office was established were as follows:[10]
The Urasenke Foundation of Hawaii, headquartered at theUrasenke Hawaii Branch, was established as a USA registered non-profit corporation in 1976
The Urasenke Tea Ceremony Society, Inc, headquartered at theUrasenke Chanoyu Center, was established as a USA registered non-profit corporation in 1981, when theUrasenke New York Branch moved into the newly openedUrasenke Chanoyu Center, located at 153 East 69th St. in New York.
TheUrasenke Foundation of California, headquartered at theUrasenke San Francisco Branch, was founded as a USA registered non-profit organization in 1994. It is generally known asUrasenke Foundation San Francisco.
The Urasenke Tankōkai (裏千家淡交会) is the membership organization for Urasenke teachers and students. It was initiated in 1940 by the fourteenth-generation head of Urasenke, Tantansai (1893-1964), with the aim of unifying and encouraging the practitioners of Urasenke chadō.[11] In 1953, it was registered by the Ministry of Education and Culture as a not-for-profit incorporated association (shadan hōjin). It is now registered as a not-for-profit general incorporated association (ippan shadan hōjin).[12] Its official registered name, as such, isIppan Shadan Hōjin Chadō Urasenke Tankōkai (一般社団法人茶道裏千家淡交会). In English, it is referred to as the Urasenke Tankōkai Federation. Its stated aims are to ensure the standardization of the Urasenke chanoyu rules and tea-making procedures (temae), support research, encourage cooperation and exchange among all members, promote the practice of the principles laid down by the grand master, and expand the chadō population around the world. Also, it provides support for the purposes and activities of the Urasenke Foundation.[13]
In Japan, the organization is divided into seventeen districts comprising 165 chapters (shibu) and 2 sub-chapters (shisho). Each district has a liaison council for the Gakkō Chadō (Tea Training in the Educational System) program sponsored by the organization. There are also 167 groups belonging to the organization's Seinenbu, or "Youth Division." These three entities organize seminars, tea gatherings, conventions, and many other activities. The central office, serving to coordinate the programs and activities of all these, is located in the Urasenke Center building at Urasenke headquarters, Kyoto. Twice a year, in the spring and autumn, it calls together a national meeting of chapter presidents, to decide upon general policies and activities. In 1999, the International Division of the Urasenke Foundation was moved under the umbrella of this office, effectively extending the organization to overseas regions. Currently there are 92 official Chadō Urasenke Tankōkai associations spread over 37 countries outside Japan.[14]
TheUrasenke Tankōkai Seinenbu (裏千家淡交会青年部), or Urasenke Tankōkai Youth Division, is an organization for Urasenke chadō enthusiasts under the age of fifty. It was initiated in 1950 by the then Urasenke 15th-generation iemoto-to-be, Sen Sōkō, aiming to muster the combined power of Urasenke's youths toward rebuilding the war-torn nation. Its creed is "Train (修練) in order to better oneself; Serve (奉仕) your community; Friendship (友情) toward the world and among members." At first, the organization was called Seinenkai. This name was changed to Seinenbu in 1963. The organization's first chapters were established inKure andHiroshima in May, 1950. In 1966, the organization held its first National Convention, at theKyoto International Conference Hall, at which there were over 2,200 attendees. In 1974, the organization's first chartered Urasenke Youth Ship (裏千家青年の船) friendship mission, with 418 participants, sailed to Okinawa and Hong Kong.[15]
TheUrasenke Gakuen Chadō Senmon Gakkō (裏千家学園茶道専門学校), or "Urasenke Gakuen Professional College of Chadō," is generally known as the Urasenke Gakuen. It is located on the same neighborhood block as the Urasenke home in Kyoto, and is the only accredited school in Japan specializing in chadō education. It had its start in 1962, as the Urasenke Chadō Kenshūjō (裏千家茶道研修所), or "Urasenke Chadō Training Institute,"[16] run by Urasenke's incorporated foundation, Zaidan Hōjin Konnichian (known in English as the Urasenke Foundation). In 1971, its name was changed to "Urasenke Gakuen," and in 1976, its name was changed again, to "Urasenke Gakuen Chadō Senmon Gakkō." In 1983, it had its new start as a registered educational foundation (学校法人),[17] and was formally accredited as a professional college by the Ministry of Education.
The number one characteristic of this professional college is that it is a chadō training center directly connected to the Urasenke Iemoto. The current Chairman of the Urasenke Gakuen Educational Foundation, and Principal of the Urasenke Gakuen Professional College, isMasako Sen,[18] who is the wife of Urasenke Iemoto Sōshitsu Sen XVI.
In addition to its regular three-year course, which is referred to as thechadō-ka (茶道科) and provides a basic, comprehensive chadō education, it also has a separate one-year course and a graduate course referred to as thekenkyūka (研究科, "research course").[19]
Furthermore, the Urasenke Gakuen has a non-Japanese students division called the "Midorikai" (lit., "green group"). The Midorikai study program is an intensive one-year program in which the students are provided with lectures and other instruction in English.[20]
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