The is a princely house of the Ryà «kyà « Kingdom founded by , sixth son of the tenth king of the second Shà  dynasty, Shà  Shitsu. It is a cadet branch of the Shà  Clan.
Until annexion of the Ryà «kyà « Kingdom by Japan, the head of the House of Motobu had the function of of Motobu magiri (currently Motobu Town).
The fifth head of the house, , is a famous poet.
The eighth head of the house, served as royal deputy (ambassador plenipotentiary) during the French-ryà «kyà «an convention negotiations () in 1855.
After the annexion of the kingdom by Japan, the tenth head of the house Chà Âyà « Motobu and his younger brother Chà Âki Motobu developed the karate schools of and .
The house was founded by Shà  Kà Âshin Chà Âhei Prince of Motobu.
Motobu magiri (initially named was created in 1666 in order to be given as fief to Shà  Kà Âshin, then aged 11.
The heads of the Motobu Udun house, since its creation and until the annexion of the kingdom by Japan, had the function of of Motobu magiri and often occupied important functions in the royal administration of Shuri, sometimes being granted the title of , that is generally only given to the king's sons. It was a predominant family in the ryà «kyà «an political sphere, known for its implication in international relations, arts and martial arts.
Fourteen house heads have succeeded one another during eleven generations.
Chà Âhei (1655 â 1687), the founder of the lineage, was the sixth son of the tenth king of the second Shà  dynasty, Shà  Shitsu, and of the royal concubine .
According to the , he was born on the 19th day of the 5th lunar month of year 12 of the Shunzhi era () and died on the 27th day of the 8th month of year 26 of the Kangxi era (). His mother was the daughter of . The founding ancestor of the Clan is (originally known as ).
Chà Âhei took the name of in 1666 when given Motobu magiri as his personal fief. He married the daughter of , the .
He was buried in the Motobu-udun-baka tomb in Ganeko (Ginowan), that then became the family tomb of the House of Motobu.
His eldest son, Chà Âkan, succeeded him as the head of the House of Motobu, while his younger son, Chà Âtaku was adopted by Urasoe Aji and became the head of the .
, the fourth head of the House of Motobu was appointed in 1716 as , the ministry in charge of arts and tea ceremonies, in order to take care of the organisation of the ceremonies for the seventh anniversary of the death of king Shà  Tei. For this event, he collaborated with the famous , . Chà Âkun's son, Chà Âki, who would also become magistrate of dances in 1756, had been Chà Âryà «'s tutor and had taught him the art of dance. This art would become predominant in the activities of the House of Motobu.
Chà Âryà « also took part in embassies to Satsuma in 1723 and 1738.
He was one of the general supervisors during the redaction of the Kyà «yà  between 1743 and 1745.
His many activities at the service of the kingdom granted him the rank of prince, a title generally only given to the king's children.
(1741âÂÂ1814), sixth head of the House of Motobu, is one of the masters of ryà «kyà «an poetry. He is, with , one of the and is also among the .
His poetry is very pure and scholarly, essentially dealing with love feelings. He is depicted as a very formal man, always wearing his official attire and arriving several hours early to poetry meetings in order to read poetry books before the start of the gathering.
His skillful use of the particle in his poems granted him the nickname of "Dainsu Aji".
He is the author of the , that is used in the traditional play Ama-kÃÂ.
As Chà Âryà «, in addition to his artistic activities, Chà Âkyà « took part in an embassy to Satsuma in 1773.
His wife, Mainugani, was the granddaughter of the 18th century karate master .
, seventh head of the House of Motobu, distinguished himself by his participation in embassies to Satsuma in 1804, 1809 and 1814, during which he partook of tasks related to the official relations with the Shimazu clan, made official visits to several temples and sanctuaries and attended poetry meetings.
His implication in the politics of the kingdom and the international relations with Japan granted him the rank of prince.
, ninth head of the House of Motobu, is celebrated as a martial arts master. He served three different kings, Shà  Kà Â, Shà  Iku and Shà  Tai, for whom he was .
In 1855, he serves as royal deputy (ambassador plenipotentiary) during the French-ryà «kyà «an convention negotiations ('). It is said he was chosen to represent the king because his physical appearance and his poise gave him a royal aura.
He also took part in an embassy to Satsuma in 1859.
Chà Âyà « Motobu (1857âÂÂ1928), eleventh head of the House of Motobu, is famous as the creator of the karate branch that will later be known under the name of .
He was also a master in the arts of dance and poetry. Before the fell of the Ryà «kyà « Kingdom, he used the title of , which was the title used by the eldest sons of the heads of the House of Motobu before they succeeded to their fathers.
After the fall of the kingdom, the position of head of the House of Motobu merged with the position of head of the Mutubu-udundë school of karate. Chà Âyà « transmitted the title to his karate disciple , to whom he gave the mission to go and teach the Mutubu-udundë secrets to his son Chà Âmà  who lived in Wakayama in Japan.
Chà Âki Motobu (1870âÂÂ1944), the younger brother of Chà Âyà «, is a famous karate master, often presented as the greatest karate master in all Okinawan history, and known mondially. He moved to à Âsaka during the Taishà  Period and started the diffusion of karate in Japan. He is the creator of the Motobu kenpà  school.
(1839âÂÂ1910), who was called before the fall of the kingdom , was from a cadet branch of the House of Motobu, the ). He became through marriage the head of the . He was a famous karate master who studied with Sà Âkon Matsumura.
Chà Âtoku Kyan (1870âÂÂ1945) was the third son of Chà Âfu Kyan. Although he became by adoption the head of the Motonaga family, he is mainly known under his former name of Kyan. He also was a famous karate master, having studied with his father, Sà Âkon Matsumura and Kà Âsaku Matsumora.
Chà Âsei Motobu (born in 1925) is the current head of the House of Motobu. He is Chà Âki Motobu's son, born in à Âsaka. He is a master of the Motobu kenpà  karate school that was developed by his father. He also learnt the Mutubu-udundë with Seikichi Uehara starting in 1976 and inherited the title of master of the Mutubu-udundë.
The coat of arms of the House of Motobu is a inscribed into a circle. The hijaigumun is the symbol of the royal family of the Ryà «kyà « Kingdom, and can only be doned by families descending from the royal family. It is very often used by the houses of the udun rank for their coat of arms, associated with other elements (here a circle).