The seventh head of Omotesenke, Joshinsai, decided that 'those that can call themselves Senke are (the first sons of) Omotesenke, Urasenke, and Mushanokojisenke, and second sons, third sons, and so forth can't call themselves as one,' and the other two houses agreed with the decision; therefore, Senke in the world of tea ceremony came to be limited to the three houses, which are Omotesenke, Urasenke, and Mushanokojisenke.
表千家七代如心斎が、「千家を名乗るのは表千家・裏千家・武者小路千家（の嫡子）とし、二男三男にはこれを名乗らせない」と定め、他の二家もこれを了承したため、茶道で千家といえば表千家・裏千家・武者小路千家の三家に限定されることとなった。