yaku-ishi　役石
CATEGORY:　architecture / tea houses
　
Also kaname-ishi 要石. Rocks and stones which in a tea garden *roji 露地 which served a practical as well as an aesthetic purpose. Many of these stones helped guide guests through the garden or highlight key design features. Yaku-ishi were named according to their position or function. Directly in front of the low entrance *nijiriguchi 躙口 to a rustic tearoom *chashitsu 茶室 were the first stone *hatsu-no-ishi 初の石 or stepping stone *fumi-ishi 踏石, the second stone *niban-ishi 二番石 or falling stone *ochi-ishi 落石, and the third stone sanban-ishi 三番石 or mounting stone *nori-ishi 乗石. A hot-water bucket stone *yuoke-ishi 湯桶石 with a bucket of water placed on it for guests, was located beside the handwash basin *chouzubachi 手水鉢. The front stone *mae-ishi 前石 was placed directly in front of the basin, and opposite the water bucket was the candle-holding or lantern stone teshoku-ishi 手燭石. Other yaku-ishi included a sword-resting stone *katanakake-ishi 刀掛石 below the sword rack *katanakake 刀掛, a viewing stone *monomi-ishi 物見石, a general guest's stone *kinin-ishi 貴人石 and listening to a bell stone kanekiki-ishi 鐘聞石 near the waiting arbor *koshikake machiai 腰掛待合, and a path-dividing stone *fumiwake-ishi 踏分石 and temple stone *garan-ishi 伽藍石. There were also stones near the middle garden gate *chuumon 中門 called the step-over stone *norigoe-ishi 乗越石, guest stone *kyaku-ishi 客石, host's stone teishu-ishi 亭主石, and under-the-door stone tozuri-ishi 戸摺石. Seven yaku-ishi were known collectively as the seven trump stones *nanatsu-ishi 七つ石.
　
Meimei'an 明々庵 (Shimane)
*kininguchi 貴人口：Meimei'an 明々庵 (Shimane)

　
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