kagami-ishi 鏡石
KEY WORD : architecture / tea houses
 
Lit. mirror stone.

1 A stone which is placed behind a hand wash basin *chouzubachi 手水鉢 with the flat side facing forward like a mirror. The stone is usually bluish with natural vertical lines. A stone with a pointed top is favoured. Also called *ushiro-ishi 後石.

2 A blue stone used in a dry garden, set upright to represent a waterfall. Examples can be seen in the gardens of Nanzenjii 南禅寺 and Daikokuji 大徳寺, both in Kyoto.

3 A trump stone *yaku-ishi 役石 set in a pond.

4 Often written 蟄石. Also mizukaeshi-ishi 水返し石. A stone placed in front of a hand wash basin chouzubachi in a tea garden. Placed at below the rim of the basin to stop the water cast out of the basin from splashing up. It is placed where it corresponds to the front stone *mae-ishi 前石.
 
 

 
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