mae-ishi　前石

KEY WORD :　architecture / tea houses

1　Also called kazari-ishi 飾石, touage-ishi 灯あげ石, toutomoshi-ishi 灯ともし石. A flat stone laid into the ground in front of a garden lantern and used to stand on to light the lantern. The mae-ishi is slightly higher and larger than any other stepping stones *tobi-ishi 飛石 in the vacinity. 2　Also tsukubai-ishi 蹲踞石, kagami-ishi 踞石, *hakamazuri-ishi 袴ずり石. A flat stone placed in front of a garden hand-wash basin *chouzubachi 手水鉢. This stone is slightly higher than any surrounding stones. 3　A natural stone used in the earth-floored toilet area of a tea garden. One of two stones, about 8cm inches high, which is used to stand on when using the low Japanese toilet. Mae-ishi refers to the stone nearest to the exit; the other stone is called ashikake-ishi 足掛石. Together these two stepping stones are known as *fumi-ishi 踏石.

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*yaku-ishi 役石

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