Crouching Water Basins Tsukubai-chozubachi

Certain kinds of Basins of very low form, which cannot be used in an erect position, and employed mostly in Tea-Gardens, or Passage Gardens, are called "Crouching Water Basins" (Tsukubai-chozubachi). Their original purpose was for collecting spring water, and they had no connection with the out-buildings. In the gardens of modern Tea Rooms they are placed in front of the lavatory, detached, and filled with perfectly clean water; when introduced into larger grounds they occupy quite a secondary position.