Item description - YO03010176
Ryoan-ji Zenigata, Japanese Chozubachi Tsukubai - A Chōzubachi (手水鉢) is an ornamental waterbassin found in the traditional Japanese garden. It is used for the ritual washing of the hands and rinsing of the mouth before a person is allowed to participate in the tea ceremony or enter holy grounds such as Buddhist temples or Shinto shrines. Loosely translated Chōzubachi means waterbassin for the hands.
This Chōzubachi can perfectly be used in a traditional Tsukubai arrangement. This means that specific functional stones named Yaku-ishi (役石) are placed around the Chōzubachi. The stones placed on either side are called Teshoke-ishi (手燭石) and Yuoke-ishi (湯桶石). The stone in the front is called Mae-ishi (前石). Additionally, a stone Oribe lantern can be placed behind the Chōzubachi. A bamboo ladle or dipper is also a frequently seen item in the Tsukubai arrangement. The water supply of the Tsukubai can traditionally be arranged with a bamboo spout called Takekakehi (竹筧). The term Tsukubai originated from the Japanese verb Tsukubau (蹲う) which means to crouch down, an act of humbleness.
The Ryōan-ji (龍安寺) Chōzubachi is an example of a Zenigata (銭形) or coin shaped waterbassin. The name Ryōan-ji comes from the famous temple with the same name in Kyoto from where the type originated. The four characters on each side of the Chōzubachi all form a new character together with the hole in the middle which represents the Kanji of 口, which is read as Kuchi, meaning mouth or opening.
All the combinations are as follows: • 1. 吾 (ware) meaning: I • 2. 唯 (tada) meaning: only • 3. 足 (taru) meaning: plenty • 4. 知 (shiru) meaning: to know
These characters form a sentence together which roughly translates to: When you learn to be content with what you have, you are rich in spirit.
Specifications • Origin: Nagoya, Aichi prefecture • Material: Shirakawa stone (白川石) • Age: Shōwa Period
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