Iemoto

Iemoto (家元; lit., "family foundation") is a Japanese term used to refer to the founder or current head master of a certain school of traditional Japanese art. It is used synonymously with the word "sōke" (宗家)　when it refers to the family or house that the iemoto is head of and represents.

The word "iemoto" is also used to describe a system of familial generations in traditional Japanese arts such as tea ceremony, ikebana, noh, calligraphy, traditional Japanese dance, traditional Japanese music, the Japanese art of incense appreciation (kōdō), the Japanese sencha art (senchadō), and martial arts. Shogi and Go once used the "iemoto" system as well. The "iemoto" system is characterized by a hierarchical structure and the supreme authority of the "iemoto", who has inherited the secret traditions of the school from the previous "iemoto".

The "iemoto" is the chief of a line of head masters, and is the most senior representative and teacher of a given school. An "iemoto" may be addressed by the title "Iemoto" or "O-iemoto", or by the title sōshō (宗匠) or "Ō-sensei" (大先生). The "iemoto's" main roles are to lead the school and protect its traditions, to be the final authority on matters concerning the school, to issue or approve licenses and certificates and, in some cases, to instruct the most advanced practitioners.

The title of "iemoto" in most cases is hereditary. It is commonly transmitted by direct line, or by adoption. There can only be one "iemoto" at a time, which sometimes leads to the creation of new "houses" or "lines." By tradition, the title of "iemoto" is passed down along with a hereditary name. In the Urasenke tradition of tea ceremony, for example, the "iemoto" carries the name Sōshitsu.

Officially recognized teachers of the traditional arts that have an "iemoto" have obtained a license to teach from the "iemoto", signifying the "iemoto"'s trust that the so-licensed person is capable and qualified to faithfully pass on the school's teachings. Students must also acquire licenses or certificates at various stages in their study. Depending on the school, such certificates either give the student permission to study at a particular level or affirm that the student has achieved a given level of mastery. Recipients must pay for these certificates which, at the highest level, may cost several million yen. It is also the "iemoto" who authorises, selects and bestows ceremonial names for advanced practitioners.

History

As far back as the Heian period (794-1185), there were iemoto-like family lines that were responsible for passing down the secret traditions and orthodox teachings of their particular school of art, but the first appearance of the word "iemoto" in extant records dates to the end of the 17th century, where it is used in reference to families entitled to have their sons become priests at great temples. Its use in the sense that it is used today, in the realm of traditional Japanese arts, starts to appear in documents in the middle of the 18th century. [A Chanoyu Vocabulary: Practical Terms for the Way of Tea (Kyoto: Tankosha, 2007)]

The system of iemoto is a manifestation of the ie (家) or "household" and dōzoku (同族) or "extended kin" pattern of relationships in Japanese society. ["Iemoto" entry by Francis L. K. Hsu in Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan]

The concept of the "Iemoto System" (家元制度) was explicated by the historian Matsunosuke Nishiyama in the post-war period to describe the social structures associated with exclusive family control and networks of instructors, a characteristic of the feudal era whose influence on traditional arts is still felt today.

Famous families and schools

Go

There were originally four main schools of Go: Hon'inbō, Hayashi, Inoue and Yasui; and three minor schools: Sakaguchi, Hattori and Mizutani.

Early in the 17th century, the then best player in Japan, Hon'inbō Sansa, was made head of a newly founded Go academy (the Hon'inbō school (本因坊), which developed the level of playing greatly, and introduced the martial arts style system of ranking players. The government discontinued its support for the Go academies in 1868 as a result of the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate.

In honour of the Hon'inbō school, whose players consistently dominated the other schools during their history, one of the most prestigious Japanese Go championships is called the "Honinbo" tournament.

Ikebana

The three main schools of Japanese flower arrangement, or ikebana, are Ikenobo, Ohara, and Sōgetsu (see Sofu Teshigahara).

According to the organization Ikebana Network, [http://www.kadou.com/hp/ryuuha.htm] there currently are 138 registered schools small and large (as of August 2008).

Japanese dancing

There are about 200 schools of Japanese dancing. The five most famous are the Hanayagi-ryū, Fujima-ryū, Wakayagi-ryū, Nishikawa-ryū, and Bandō-ryū.

Incense appreciation (kōdō 香道)

The two main schools are the Shino-ryū and the Nijō-ryū

Tea ceremony

see the article Schools of Japanese tea ceremony

Criticisms of and resistance to the iemoto system

The "iemoto" system has been described as rigid, expensive, nepotistic, authoritarian and undemocratic. Some groups have chosen to reject the "iemoto" system. Hiroaki Kikuoka, a shamisen player, created a presidential system for his group, [http://metropolis.japantoday.com/biginjapanarchive299/266/biginjapaninc.htm "Hiroaki Kikuoka"] , Metropolis ] while koto player Michiyo Yagi has rejected both the "iemoto" system and the traditional style of her instrument, choosing to strike chords. [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1406597 "Japanese Classical Music"] , Weekend Edition Sunday, August 24, 2003 ] .

References

Outside Links

Ohara ikebana school official site: http://www.ohararyu.or.jp/english/index_e.html

Sōgetsu ikebana school official site: http://www.sogetsu.or.jp/english/index.html

Wakayagi-ryū Japanese classical dance iemoto's official site: http://www.wakayagiryu-souke.jp

ee also

* Dōshu