The”RAKUTEI”Chanoyu-Tea Ceremony
What is a tsukubai?
A tsukubai is a traditional garden feature essential to the Japanese tea ceremony, used to calm the mind and purify the body before entering the tea room.
The tsukubai is placed in the tea garden (roji) along the path leading to the tea room. Guests must wash their hands and mouth at the tsukubai before entering the tea room. This is not merely a cleansing ritual but an important spiritual preparation.
The meaning of the name “tsukubai”
The word “tsukubai” means a water basin used in a squatting position. The basin is deliberately placed low so that it cannot be used while standing. This forces the user to bend their waist, which is a humble posture. This expresses the spirit of tea ceremony, which is “humility” and “peace of mind.”
The symbolic meaning of tsukubai
Tea ceremony is a special world where one can escape from the noise of daily life and calm one’s mind. Tsukubai serves as a “spiritual boundary” that separates the real world from the world of tea ceremony. The water in the tsukubai is prepared with care by the host, and guests feel the host’s hospitality by washing their hands with it. This is considered the first “heartfelt exchange” in a tea ceremony.
The design of the tsukubai
The tsukubai is composed of the following role stones:
- Chōzubachi (water basin): A stone basin for washing hands, placed in the center. It is the most important stone in the tsukubai. Therefore, the color and quality of the chōzubachi stone are carefully selected, and other role stones are chosen to harmonize with it. The chōzubachi is filled with water through a hole, and the overflowing water is designed to flow down in front. At RAKUTEI, we select the water basin with this in mind.
- Front stepping stone (maeishi): Located in front of the water basin, where guests stand to wash their hands. In practical stone basins, the front stepping stone is positioned at a distance that allows one to easily scoop water from the basin with a ladle while squatting. Generally, the distance from the center of the basin’s hole to the front stepping stone is approximately 70 cm. RAKUTEI designs its practical squatting stones with these dimensions in mind.
- Stone for placing a tub (yuokeishi) and stone for placing a lamp (teshokuishi): These are placed on either side and were traditionally used to hold a tub or a lamp. During winter tea ceremonies, the water in the hand-washing basin becomes extremely cold, making it inconvenient for guests to wash their hands. Therefore, the host prepares a tub filled with hot water and places it on the tub stone. This is the spirit of hospitality that Japanese people value. Rakutei uses stones from the Hii River, a first-class river flowing through the Izumo region of Shimane Prefecture. The Hii River is a turbulent river famous in mythology for its association with the eight-headed serpent Yamata no Orochi. The myth of Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the deity who defeated the eight-headed serpent, symbolizes the long-standing flood control efforts against the violent HIIKAWA River, which has repeatedly engulfed the city. The sword that emerged from the tail of the YAMATANOOROCHI when it was defeated later became one of the Three Sacred Treasures (treasures symbolizing the Emperor), known as the AMENOMURAKUMONOTSURUGI (Sword of the Heavenly Clouds). Upstream of the HII River, there was actually a TATARA ironworks that produced TAMAHAGANE, the raw material for Japanese swords. RAKUTEI is made using stones from the historically significant Izumo region.
- Small stones: Small round stones are laid in front of the water basin to express the flow and purity of water. This is where water overflowing from the water basin and water used to wash hands with a ladle are drained. The area with small stones is called the sea. This design prevents the ground where water accumulates from being visible and also prevents water from splashing and dirtying the feet. In reality, drainage pipes are installed beneath the sea to drain the water. SUIKINKUTSU (water harp) refers to a tsukubai where water flowing from the hand-washing basin resonates, producing a beautiful sound reminiscent of a harp. This is achieved by burying a water jar upside down beneath the sea and creating a hollow space in the soil to amplify the sound. It is a secret technique passed down by gardeners to be enjoyed with all five senses.
- Stone lantern (tōrō): A stone lantern placed near the hand-washing basin for lighting, creating a quiet and mysterious atmosphere. Sen no Rikyū used stone lanterns in tea gardens, and his disciple Furuta Oribe devised the stone lantern placed at the suikinkutsu. With its low profile, it harmonizes beautifully with the overall design without detracting from the presence of the water basin. This lantern is called the Oribe lantern.
Why are tsukubai always found in Izumo gardens?
Originally, tsukubai were installed in tea gardens with Japanese tea rooms. They are used to cleanse the hands and mouth before entering the tea room and are an important part of the tea ceremony.
However, in the Izumo region (present-day eastern Shimane Prefecture), this “tsukubai” is installed in all traditional gardens, regardless of whether they have a tea room. This is a very rare feature, and it is said to be influenced by a certain historical figure.
The figure who connected Izumo and the tea ceremony: Fumai-kou
Behind this unique culture lies the existence of Matsudaira Harusato, lord of the Matsue domain during the Edo period, commonly known as Fumai-ko (1751–1818). Fumai-ko was one of Japan’s most educated men and was particularly famous as a tea master.
He became lord of the domain at the young age of 17 and is also known as a wise lord who restored the domain’s finances, which were on the verge of collapse, and revitalized the economy. He was well versed in various arts such as Zen, poetry, calligraphy, and ceramics, and in particular, he criticized the prevailing trend of the time, which was biased toward “luxury and boasting about utensils” in the tea ceremony. He returned to the spirit of Sen no Rikyu’s “wabi-cha” and valued “tea that cultivates the mind” and “tea that knows contentment.” This later gave rise to the “Sekishu-ryu Fumai-ha” school of tea ceremony.
Fumai and the garden culture of Izumo
When visiting Izumo Taisha Shrine, Fumai stayed at a special lodging facility called “Gohonjin.” This Gohonjin had a beautiful garden, which was considered luxurious at the time, and tea was served to entertain Fumai. Of course, a “tsukubai” was set up in the garden for the purpose of preparing tea.
As time passed and the culture of having gardens spread to ordinary households, people began to model their gardens after the one at the Gohonjin. Thus, the culture of “placing a tsukubai in the garden” naturally took root in the Izumo region, and even today, many gardens feature a tsukubai, regardless of whether they have a tea room or not.
The presence of tsukubai in Izumo region gardens is not merely a custom, but a result of cultural and historical accumulation. The spirit of tea ceremony and the aesthetic sensibility of the great figure, Lord Fuma, continue to breathe life into each and every garden.
Izumo Region, the Birthplace of RAKUTEI — A Sacred Land Where Gods Gather
Izumo is a region with a special presence in Japan. It is known as the setting for Japanese mythology and is considered the birthplace of many stories featuring kami (gods). Izumo appears many times in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, ancient texts recording Japanese mythology, as the land of the gods.
At the center of this region is Izumo Taisha Shrine, one of the oldest shrines in Japan, which enshrines Ōkuninushi no Mikoto, known as the god of matchmaking. This deity presides over the “connections” between people, between hearts, and between nature and humanity.
The Only Place Where the Gods Gather — Kamiarizuki (Month of the Gods)
In Japan, October is called “Kannazuki” or “the month without gods.” This is because all the gods from across the country gather in Izumo, leaving no gods in other regions.
However, Izumo is different. October is called “Kamiarizuki,” or “the month when the gods are present.”
During this period, it is said that the Izumo Grand Shrine hosts the “Kami-hikari,” a gathering of the eight million gods from across the nation to discuss the bonds and destinies of people. Though the gods are invisible, it is believed that their presence can be felt in the air, wind, and sounds of the sea in Izumo.
The Sacredness of Izumo and Its Influence on Japanese Culture
Izumo, where such beliefs still thrive, is a land that can be considered the source of Japan’s spiritual culture. The idea that the gods, nature, and human activities are in harmony is reflected in gardens, architecture, and lifestyle.
