Sado, or the way of tea, is commonly known as the Japanese tea ceremony. Powdered green tea was first used, mainly for ceremonial purposes, in Zen temples in the Kamakura era. Eventually it spread among the ruling classes and the affluent. In the late 16th century, Sen no Rikyu incorporated the Zen philosophy of impermanence into the tea ceremony and perfected the wabi-cha style, which valued simplicity. After his death, there was a division among his offspring, resulting in the establishment of three schools of tea ceremony: Omote Senke, Ura Senke, and Mushanokoji Senke. Many other styles have since branched off from them. The title of grand master (iemoto) is passed on hereditarily in each school. Many Japanese study the art of tea ceremony, which includes intricate protocol and manners, under the iemoto system. Licenses are available for various levels of practitioners. 意訳：鎌倉時代，禅宗寺院の喫茶の礼に始まる．禅の精神を取り入れ，侘びを重んずる侘茶が千利休によって大成されたのち，表千家・裏千家・武者小路千家の三家に分かれ，さらに多くの分派ができた．茶を入れる礼儀・作法を習う点前茶の湯が登場すると，各流派の相伝，それに対する許状という形が体系化され，これにより家元制度が確立し，今日に至っている
