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Contents of Tea School Structure

Ie

The structure of Tea organizations is usually based on the traditional Japanese model of the family or house.

Iemoto

A two-story Japanese house gate. It has grey roof tile. The upper level is plastered white. There are slits in the wall so the people in the room over the gate can see who is outside. The gate doors on the lower level are wood with heavy iron hardware. The walls on either side are also roofed with tile. They are also made of wood and plaster.

The Main Gate of the Omotesenke Tea Lineage

The Japanese character for "house".

The Japanese character for "main" or "original" house.

Lecture Notes

A number of subsidiary families may be linked to a main house. The main house has the overall obligation to:

1. maintain the family line biologically (or through adoption),

2. perform memorial rites for the ancestors, and

3. ensure the economic survival of the group.

The main house is called the honke or iemoto.