also: そうか
head of family; head house
Refers to the main family line or its head, especially in traditional contexts like martial arts, tea ceremony, or other hereditary schools.
He is the eldest son of the head family of the tea ceremony.
sōke; founder of a style; originator
Often used as a title for the founder or grand master of a traditional art, martial art, or school. The term sōke is sometimes used in English to refer to this role.
The sōke of this school has passed down the techniques for generations.
He is known as the head of the tea ceremony school.
After his father's death, he succeeded as head of the family.
She guides her disciples in her role as head of the school.
本家 refers broadly to the main house within a family lineage, while 宗家 is used specifically for the head house of a hereditary art, martial art, or school.
宗派 refers to a religious sect or denomination, while 宗家 refers to the head family or founder's line of a traditional art or school; the shared 宗 kanji causes confusion.
Standard kanji spelling; the reading そうけ is the most common.
Rarely used reading; it is rarely used kana form.
Composed of 宗 (sect, origin) and 家 (house, family). The term originally referred to the main lineage of a clan or religious sect, later extended to the head of traditional arts.