Kyojo

Urasenke

Urasenke organizes its temae into groups of kyojō 許状 (permission to study). After receiving a certain kyojō, the student can start receiving instruction in the temae covered by that kyojō.

The kyojō are requested by the student’s teacher. They are written by Kyojō-bu at Urasenke headquarters in Kyōto on behalf of Oiemoto. With the kyojō a student is given a membership card in Urasenke. There is a fee for getting a kyojō. The fee is considerably lower for people outside Japan than inside Japan. Sometimes additional fees or percentages of the fees are kept by the local teacher, depending on the local group structure.

Kyojō 許状 Certificates

Shokyuu (Beginner Level)

The beginner student certifications usually include Nyumon, Konarai, and Chabakodate.

Nyumon 入門 (Entrance)

The first procedures studied include:

  • Warigeiko 割り稽古 – Separate exercises.
  • Bonryakudemae 盆略点前 – Round tray and a tetsubin are used.
  • Chitosebon – Round box with a lid and tetsubin are used.

The student then progresses to hirademae (basic procedures):

  • Usucha Hakobi 薄茶運び – The utensils are carried into the room. A mizusashi, hishaku and kama are required. The mizusashi sits directly on the tatami mat. No tana (tea shelf/table) is used.
  • Koicha Hakobi 濃茶運び – Basically the same as for usucha, but thick tea is made instead of thin tea.
  • Shozumi 初炭 – Preparing charcoal before making tea.
  • Gozumi 後炭 – Preparing charcoal between making koicha and usucha.

Konarai 小習

Once the student has mastered Nyumon, they progress to Konarai. It is sixteen small practices, or variations of the basic tea procedure.  This is still considered  beginner level.

  • Kinindate 貴人点 – Making tea for a nobleman.
  • Kinin Kiyotsugu 貴人清次 – Making tea for a nobleman and his retainer(s).
  • Chaire Kazari 茶入飾り – Tea procedure  when using a chaire which has some special distinction or that was received from a distinguished person, or it has a connection between host and guest.
  • Chawan Kazari 茶碗飾り – As above but for chawan.
  • Chashaku Kazari 茶杓飾り – As above but for chashaku.
  • Chasen Kazari 茶筅飾り – As above but for mizusashi or kama.
  • Nagao Chaire 長緒茶入 – Making koicha using a chaire in a Shifuku that has a long cord.
  • Kasane-jawan 重ね茶碗 – Making koicha for more than 5 people using two teabowls.
  • Tsutsumi-bukusa 包み袱紗 – Using a natsume in a fukusa instead of a chaire in a Shifuku for making koicha.
  • Otsu-bukuro 大津袋 – Using a natsume in a special silk pouch instead of chaire in a Shifuku for making koicha.
  • Tsubo Kazari 壺飾り – Displaying the chatsubo (jar for tea leafs)
  • Sumi Shomou 炭所望 – Asking the guest to lay the charcoal.
  • Hana Shomou 花所望 – Asking the guest to place the flowers.
  • Irekodate 入子点 – Serving usucha and only entering the room once, good for children and old people who can not easily stand up and sit down.
  • Bon Kougou 盆香合 – A form of Shozumi using a Kogo with a tray.
  • Jiku Kazari 軸飾り – Displaying a particularly nice scroll.

Chabakodate 茶箱点

Using a box to transport the utensils in. This tea box procedures is often conducted outdoors.  This certificate is often awarded with Nyumon and Konarai certificates.

  • Unohanadate 卯の花点- this is the first chabako temae students learn.  It is the hirademae (basic procedure) for chabako and can also be studied with a Nyumon certificate.
  • Wakeidate 和敬点 – created by Tantansai, it combines the unohana and yuki versions of chabakodate, making a more simplified version.
  • Yuki 雪 – Winter chabako
  • Tsuki 月 – Autumn chabako
  • Hanadate 花 – Spring chabako
  • Shikishidate 色紙点 – The “tea box” is replaced by a woven basket.

Chukyuu (Intermediate Level) / Shikaden

More frequently referred to as “Shikaden” (four transmissions, this is the first group of secret transmissions, and no books describing these temae are/should be available. One has to receive this teaching directly from ones teacher. The student is considered an intermediate student. Shikaden form the foundation of the classical rules concerning the use of the daisu. Five temaes are introduced, the four shikaden plus Wakindate:

  • Satsubako 茶通箱 – Serving two koicha.
  • Karamono 唐物 – Using a Chinese chaire.
  • Daitenmoku 台天目 – Using a Chinese teabowl (tenmoku chawan) on a stand tenmoku dai).
  • Bondate 盆点 – Using a Chinese chaire on a tray.
  • Wakindate 和巾点 (Rangai)  – Using a gold lined nakatsugi instead of chaire.  Nakatsugi is clothed in a shifuku cloth pouch and placed on a matching kobukusa.  The cloth is meibutsugiri (historical pattern) received from a noble person

Jōkyuu (Advanced Level) / Okuden

This is the second group of secret teachings, known as okuhi (great secrets), and no books describing these temae are/should be available. One has to receive this teaching directly from one’s teacher.  This student is considered an advanced level student.  The student also receives her/his first teaching certificate at this level.  Two temaes are introduced:

  • Gyou-no-gyou daisu 行之行台子 This license and temae procedure (also called “midare,” meaning unmatched) uses the unlacquered daisu table used together with the daitenmoku bowl and karamono chaire, which are placed on a large tray inlaid with a Daoist design of eight trigrams (hakke bon).
  • Daien-no-sou 大円草 Ennosai, the 13th iemoto, created the Daien-no-so and Daien-no-shin temae using a Daien bon tray. Daien-no-so features both a karamono chaire of a meibutsu category (renowned object) and a Japanese chaire placed on a large tray (Enso bon), and a daitenmoku bowl. No display stand is used.

Hikitsugi – This license grants permission to teach and issue certificates from Nyumon through Gyo-no-gyo temae.  This is considered 4th degree instructor level status or Jokoushi (assistant lecturer).

Betsuden

This is the third group of secret teachings, known as okuhi (great secrets), and no books describing these temae are/should be available. One has to receive this teaching directly from one’s teacher.  The two final, highest level temaes are introduced:

  • Daien-no-shin 大円真 This temae uses a formal daisu, a daitenmoku bowl, a karamono chaire (omeibutsu category), and a Daien tray.
  • Shin-no-gyou daisu 真之行台子 This temae embodies the fundamentals of the most advanced stage of chanoyu. It employs a formal black lacquered daisu, a matching set of bronze utensils (kaigu), and a karamono chaire and its companion tray, and a daitenmoku bowl. The bowl and jar, with its companion tray, are of the omeibutsu category of high-ranking renowned tea objects, identified with the periods of tea history before the time of Sen Rikyu.

Sei-Hikitsugi – This license grants permission to teach and issue certificates through Daien-no-so, Hikitsugi, and Shin-no-gyo.   This is considered 3rd degree instructor level, or Koushi (lecturer).

Chamei 茶名 and Monkyo

Generally chajin (tea people) are considered “tea masters” when they have reached this level. No more temaes are introduced from this level onward.

  • Chamei is permission to use a Chamei, or professional tea name.   The professional name is chosen by Urasenke.  The first ‘syllable’ is always “So” and the second syllable generally incorporates a portion of the student’s given name.  For example: Soyu, Somi, Soyo.
  • Monkyo is permission to wear the family tsubo tsubo mon/crest.

Sennin koushi is permission to be a full time lecturer, or 2nd degree instructor level status.

Jun-kyōju

This is considered 1st degree instructor level status or permission to be an associate professor.

Kyōju

Permission to be a professor.

Sei-kyōju

Emeritus professor.

Meiyo Shihan

Honorary or Distinguished Master/professor.  This is awarded by the Iemoto to teachers who have exhibited a lifetime of high level devotion and contributions to tea.

Fees

US Fees

This is a list of the prices in USD for the various kyojō. Uncertain if these prices include the fee normally paid to the teacher.

Nyumon, konarai, chabako (set of 3): USD 70

Satsubako: USD 30
Karamono: USD 30
Daitenmoku: USD 30
Bondate: USD 30
Wakindate: USD 40

Gyo-no-gyo daisu: USD 80
Daien-no -so: USD 80
Hikitsugi: USD 180

Shin-no-Gyo daisu: USD 90
Daien-no-shin: USD 90
Sei-hikitsugi: USD 210

Chamei and Monkyo: USD 600

Junkyooju: USD 700

Kyojō Fees in Japan

Below is from a chart dated year 2000.

_Shokyuu_
Nyumon, Konarai, Chabako (set): 10000円

_Chuukyuu_
Satsubako: 4000円
Karamono: 4000円
Daitenmoku: 4000円
Bondate: 4000円
Wakindate: 5000円

_Joukyuu_
*Note- Before applying for this level, at least one year should have passed since receiving the Bondate kyojō.
Gyo-no-gyo daisu: 12000円
Daien-no -so: 12000円
Hikitsugi: 25000円

_Koushi_
*Note- Before applying for this level, at least one year should have passed since receiving the Hikitsugi kyojō.
Shin-no-Gyo daisu: 20000円
Daien-no-shin: 20000円
Sei-hikitsugi: 35000円

_Sennin Koushi_
*Note- Before applying for this level, at least one year should have passed since receiving the Sei-hikitsugi kyojō.
Chamei, Monkyo (set): 150000円

_Jokou Uke_
Jun Kyou Uke: 170000円

Requesting Kyojō

You can request or the teacher may suggest you to apply for the kyojō. The head of the shachu will probably be the one who applies for the license for you, so this may not be your teacher, but your teacher’s teacher. When they apply for the kyojō for you, you should give them the fee of the kyojō.

In about 1-12 months, you will receive the kyojō with some ceremony. At that time, you should give O-rei to them equal to 50-100% the amount of the kyojō. After this, they will probably give you presents, such as a fukusa or sensu. You should also give O-rei for the presents.

Ueda Soko

In Ueda Soko Ryu they call the certificates Sōden. The order of Sōden:

1. Nyūmon 入門
– license to receive instruction in the 「28 Items for Training 」 –

2. Satsūbako 茶桶箱
– license to receive instruction in and perform「Satsūbako」and the「5 Advanced Training Items」 –

3 Karamono 唐物
– license to instruct and to learn and perform「Karamono」-

4. Bondate Karamono 盆点唐物

5. Daitenmoku with Karamono served to a Kinin 台天目唐物

6. Daitenmoku with Bondate Karamono served to a Kinin 台天目盆点唐物 (Kaiden 皆伝)
– license to open your own Shachū and be called ‘Tea Master’ in English (or equivalent in other languages) –

Chagō 茶号

Tea name

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