Head of the family - Iemoto

Japanese: 家元 - いえもと

In the ancient Japanese arts, this refers to a family or head of a family that inherits the authority of the orthodox school and leads the disciples of the school. Iemotos were already formed in the fields of waka and gagaku music in the Heian period, and iemotos of martial arts appeared during the Sengoku period, but in the Edo period this system spread widely to various fields of art and continues to this day. The iemoto exerts his authority over all disciples through control and educational institutions, grants licenses to the various arts of the school, and excommunicates disciples who disobey the school. This system is seen in dance, Japanese music, tea ceremony, kabuki, music, and various other fields. In dance, for example, a head family is set up separately from the iemoto, and in some cases the head family may hold both positions or may take the title of head family after the iemoto retires.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

日本古来の芸道で，流派の正統としての権威を受継ぎ，流派の門弟を統率する家もしくはその当主をいう。すでに平安時代から，歌道や雅楽の分野に家元が形成され，戦国期には武芸の家元が現れたが，江戸時代には広くさまざまの芸道分野に，この制度が展開して今日にいたる。家元は，統制，教育機関を通じて全門弟にその権威を及ぼし，流派の諸芸の免許を与え，その流派にそむいた門弟を破門する。舞踊，邦楽，茶道，歌舞伎や，音曲，その他さまざまの分野にみられる制度である。なお，舞踊などでは流派によって家元とは別に宗家を立て，兼任する場合や家元引退後に宗家を名のる場合がある。

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