head family; main branch of a school or religion
Refers to the central or original family in a lineage, or the principal branch of a school, religious sect, or traditional art.
He was born into the head family of the tea ceremony school.
The main branch of this school is in Kyoto.
Compound of 総 (そう, 'overall, general') and 本家 (ほんけ, 'head family, main house'). The prefix 総 strengthens the sense of being the ultimate or central head family.