A forefather of the Yabunouchi family was Soha YABU, Shogun Yoshimasa ASHIKAGA's doboshu (adviser specializing in the arts), who was well-versed in the secrets of the tea ceremony.
藪内家の遠祖は藪宗把といい、足利義政の同胞衆であり、茶道の奥義にも通じていたという。