Tsukubai

A tsukubai is a special kind of bowl that is used in Japanese gardens. It looks like a small stone basin that has a faucet and a little pool of water. When you visit a Japanese garden, you might find a tsukubai near the entrance or at a special place within the garden.

People use the tsukubai to cleanse their hands and mouth before entering a temple or a sacred space. You might wonder why people would want to clean themselves before entering a special place. It is because Japanese culture values cleanliness and purification. Before you can enjoy something special and meaningful, you need to be clean and pure.

To use the tsukubai, you first need to scoop some water from the basin using a special ladle called a chōzubachi. You then need to pour the water onto one hand and wash it thoroughly. Then, you repeat the process for the other hand.

After you have washed your hands, you need to rinse your mouth too. You scoop some water into your mouth and rinse it, then you spit out the water into a special drainage area called the hirō. The process of washing your hands and mouth is called temizu.

In conclusion, a tsukubai is a special bowl in Japanese gardens that is used for a ritual called temizu, where people cleanse their hands and mouths before entering sacred places. It is essential to maintain cleanliness and purification as a way of showing respect and reverence for the space.