Particularly with regard to the traditional performance arts, court nobles and the founders of a particular style of performing art (philosophy) would pass on the knowledge and skills of their tradition to their descendants; this would result in a kind of family business and even today heredity is commonly found in Kabuki, Noh drama, Kyogen (farce played during a Noh play cycle), swordsmanship, martial arts, Japanese archery and manners.
ことに伝統芸能については公卿やその芸道(哲学)の開祖が子々孫々その伝統を継承したことから家業となし、今日でも歌舞伎、能、狂言をはじめ、剣術・武道、弓術、礼法などでは世襲が一般的にみられる。