Mizusashi

Is a container that holds fresh water during the Temae.

Old records use different characters for Mizusashi (水指、水サシ、水差), but this container is also referred to with phrases like 雲龍 Unryuu, 備前壺 Bizen-tsubo, シガラキ Shigaraki, etc. that describe the type/ware

Types of Mizusashi

Metal

Karakane (唐銅)
Sahari (砂張)
Mouru (毛織)
Nanryou (南鐐)
Contents

Types of Mizusashi
Level
Shapes
Temae
Temae Rules

Ceramic

Chinese / Karamono (唐物)
Seiji (青磁)
Sometsuke (染付)
Gosu (呉須)
Shonzui (祥瑞)
Mishima (三島)
Japanese / Wamono (和物)
Seto (瀬戸)
Bizen (備前)
Shigaraki (信楽)
Iga (伊賀)
Tanba (丹波)
Shino (志野)
Oribe (織部)
Karatsu (唐津)
Takatori (高取)
Ninsei (仁清)
Raku (楽焼)
Wooden

Kiji Tsurube (木地釣瓶)
Magemono (曲物)
Teoke (手桶)
Lacquered Mizusashi:

Teoke (手桶)
Makie-mono (蒔絵物)
Level

Shin

Karakane
Sahari (kaigu)
Magemono
Shin nuri teoke
Sometsuke (kaigu)
Seiji (kaigu)
Kochi (kaigu)
Gyo (for tana, nagaita)

Glazed ceramic
Seto
Takatori
Zeze
Shino
overglazed- Ninsei
Eiraku
So- (hakobi)
Well bucket (kiji/unlacquered)
Tsurube
Teoke
Unglazed ceramics
Bizen
Shigaraki
Shimamono Hannera
Shapes

Frequently used shapes include:

Hitoe-guchi (一重口) (single-layered mouth)
Tsubo-gata (壺型) (jar-like-shaped)
Hira (平)(flat)
Teoke (手桶) (bucket-shaped)
Tsurube (釣瓶) (well-bucket)
Many are Mimi-tsuki (耳付), meaning that they have small ears on the side. Some of the metal ones have kan (鐶) (metal rings) fixed to the mizusashi.

The lid can be either Tomo-buta or Kae-buta. Tomo-buta (共蓋) is a lid that comes together with the mizusashi, meaning that it is from the same material and with the same design as the mizusashi. Kae-buta (替蓋) is a lid of lacquered wood that is made on order to fit the mizusashi. Tomo-buta is considered to be a higher rank than kae-buta. One reason for this might be that you can only make a tomo-buta for ceramic wares when the original is made; otherwise, the small changes in firing will cause the lid to get a miscoloration compared to the body. In summer, a special mizusashi without lid can be used; at that time it is covered with a large leaf called Ha-buta (葉蓋).

Temae

There are a few Temae that put emphasis on the mizusashi. Chasen Kazari can be done for the mizusashi. In Mesuidate a Tsurube is decorated with rice straw rope and hanging paper pendants made of women’s kaishi. In the summer you can do Habuta which means that you use a mizusashi without a lid, and place a large leaf on top to cover it. Also, hira mizusashi are usually only used in the summer. Because you can use so much of the water, it gives a cool feeling that is appropriate for the summer.

Temae Rules

The lid of the mizusashi is commonly placed on the left side, but there are temae where this is not the case.
If the mizusashi has a tomo-buta it is not wiped with Fukusa prior to placing the Chakin on it.
You always remove and replace the lid of the mizusashi with the right hand. You place it on the Tatami with the closest hand.
If the mizusashi stands on top of something, you do Yugaeshi.

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