| Also
mizutsubo 水壷. Lit. a water jar. A container of fresh water used either
to fill the tea bowl *chawan
茶碗, or the kettle *chanoyugama 茶湯釜,
in the tea ceremony. When a large portable shelf *daisu
台子, or single portable shelf *tanamono
棚物, is used, the mizusashi is placed there. When the tea ceremony begins
with the carrying in of a utensil, the water jar is the first to be brought in.
However, because it is relatively large, it is more often put in place beforehand
on either the host's mat *temaedatami
点前畳, the daisu or on the long board *naga-ita
長板. In this case, all other preparations are completed before the guests enter.
Upon entering the guests admire the alcove *tokonoma
床の間, followed in sequence by the kettle and brazier, the water jar and other utensils
before sitting down. Most of the water jars are ceramic but some are lacquer,
others are made by bending wood into a circle with bottom attached *magemono
曲物, and still others are made of bamboo. Most have matching covers, tomobuta
共蓋, and are made of the same ceramic or lacquered wood as the body of the kettle
; *setoyaki 瀬戸焼, *shigarakiyaki
信楽焼, *bizenyaki 備前焼, *satsumayaki
薩摩焼, Ninsei 仁清, and Kenzan 乾山 wares are among the most esteemed. |
