Short and wide water basins are for the humble, literally. Water basins of this type moves the user to bend down to the earth in humility to wash or drink the water. Most all Japanese water basins are made of stone and serve both a functional and aesthetic purpose. Like the stone basin pictured above, this Japanese tsukubai water basin can be placed in a dry pool bed of black pebbles for distinctive visual effect. Originating from Buddhist purification basins (called chozubachi), water basins were used to cleanse the temple visitor before entering a Buddhist temple. This is also true of Shinto shrines, and during preparation for traditional Japanese tea ceremonies. A Japanese tea garden ladle is often used to scoop up water from the stone basin to drink or wash hands.
The kiku (chrysanthemum) granite water basin is popular among the stone basins, as it is shaped like a chrysanthemum flower. To add to the aesthetic beauty, the most common way to add the image and sound of flowing or trickling water is by adding a bamboo kakei water spout (as pictured above). Kakei in this case can mean beautiful view or flowing water system.
Here are a few pieces about flowing water and water basins:
Nagare: Stream/ Flow, by Satomi Saeki
Drawing Water From a Mountain Stream, by Elizabeth Falconer
Koto Jazz: Kuriku Iwa No Hamon (Ripples On Creek Rocks)- by Kenji (short sample)
Koto Jazz: Rain drops from Trees, by Kenji
Koto Salad, by Chin Chin
The Sound of Water, by Izumi Fujikawa
The Room: The Water Basin, by Bennett Lerner
Where Peaceful Water flow, by Chris De Burgh
Medicine Waters Flow, by Albert Tenaya
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