Since the school's head family, the Yabunouchi family, is based at Nishinotoin-dori Street, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto City, it is commonly called the Lower (shimo) School, as opposed to the Sansenke schools (Omotesenke, Urasenke, and Mushakojisenke) located in Kamigyo Ward and known as the Upper (kami) Schools.
家元藪内家は京都市下京区西洞院通正面下にあり、このため上京区にある上流（三千家）に対して下流と呼び習わされてきた。