There is a wide variety in the shapes and forms of water basins, but they may be classified into two main divisions: chozubachi and tsukubai. The former is generally tall, or placed on a pedestal, to be used from the veranda outside the room, while the latter is low, or placed in a low elevation so as to be used in a stooping posture on a stepping-stone in the garden. Tsukubai is an indispensable object in the cha-no-yu garden, though they are used in various parts of other gardens as well for decorative effect, symbolizing in both instances a clear spring gushing from among rocks in the ravine. Such being the case, infinite care is taken to grow moss, a vine, or even a tree, on the outside of it up to the brink of the bowl, the inside of which is often scrubbed, and kept immaculate so that the fresh water poured or led into it may sparkle with crystaline purity�an apparent inconsistency, common in Nature, with which our life is enriched. There is a certain requirement in placing a tsukubai in cha-no-yu garden. There should be a flat stone of comfortable size to stoop on in dipping out water from the basin, the distance between the two to be from fifteen to eighteen inches. There should be a stone on the right hand side to place a hot-water receptacle in winter, and on the left another for a candlestick for use in night time.
