The school of the Senke (House of Sen) that originated from Edo period towns, centered around the Sansenke (three houses of tea ceremony (Omotesenke (the house of Omotesen), Urasenke (the house of Urasen) and Mushanokojisenke (the house of Mushanokojisen))), was the school that invited the new chanoyu participants mainly consisting of town class people.
これらの町人階級を主とする新たな茶の湯参入者を迎え入れたのが、元々町方の出自である三千家を中心とする千家系の流派である。