The Water Basin is found in all Japanese
gardens , situated in close proximity
to a building , but forming a part
of the garden composition.Its purpose
is to provide water for rinsing the
hands , and it is therefore placed
so as to be reached with a ladle.As
a screen between it and the wall of
the neighbouring lavatory , a low
ornamental fence of bamboo or rush
work is placed on one side , also
a stone lantern half hidden by shrubs
, all of which are kept scrupulously
clean. The size of the Water Basin
should , be proportionate to the character
of the building , and its distance
from the verandah should also accord
with the general landscape.
As the ordinary distance
of a Basin from the outer gallery
of a small residence is about 18
inches , and its height from the
ground about three or four feet
, it follows that , in front of
a building of large proportions,
the Basin becomes at least four
or five feet removed , and its height
seven or eight feet from the soil.It
is consequently out of reach for
practical purposes.In small town
buildings the lavatory may be found
disconnected from the dwellling
and placed in the garden or yard
, in which case the Water Basin stands near it , removed from the
house , and approached by stepping
stones .
Certain kinds of basins
of very low form cannot be used
in an erect position , and employed
mostly in Tea - Gardens are called
" Crouching Water Basins "
(Tsukubai - chozubachi ). Their
original purpose was for collecting
spring water , and they had no connection
with outer - buildings . In the
gardens of modern Tea Rooms they
are placed in front of the lavatory
, detached , and filled with perfectly
clean water , when introduced into
a larger grounds they occupy quite
a secondary position .
Some of the principal
kinds of Water Basins are as follows
NATSUME - gata ( Date
- shaped Basin ) is of simple oval
form , made of granite , with a
shallow hollow above for holding
water .
TETSUBACHI - gata
( Iron - Basin ) a somewhat more
flattened shape, to imitate the
metal bowl used by mendicant priests
.
GINKAKUJI - gata All
four sides of this bowl are carved
with various lattice patterns .
The original chozubachi still exists
in Ginkakuji temple , Kyoto.
ISHIUSU - gata translates
as either stone mortars or millstones
, were widely used in every day
life in former times , and later
started to be used as washing basins
. This is also an example of a reformed
basin.
ZENI - gata another
of the original type of basin shaped
to resemble zeni , or old coin with
a hollow square centre surrounded
by carved genji .
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