Temizuya Chozubachi, Japanese Chozuya Water Ornament

A Chōzubachi (手水鉢) is a water ornament that is common in traditional Japanese gardens. It is used for ritual hand washing and cleaning the mouth before a person is allowed to participate in the tea ceremony or enter sacred grounds. The word Chōzubachi literally means "water bowl for the hands.".

A Temizuya (手水舎), also known as Chōzuya, is a small pavilion located near the entrance of a Japanese shrine, such as a Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple. Temizuya can be translated as the hut with water for the hands. This perfectly describes its function. There is, in fact, a relatively large Chōzubachi where several people can use it simultaneously. The ritual washing of hands and cleaning of the mouth at a Temizuya is an important part of a respectful attitude towards the Japanese shrine that you wish to enter.

On the front are two characters that are read as Suisei (水清). This means clear water in Japanese.

Beide zijkanten zijn tevens voorzien van gegraveerde tekst waarvan niet alles goed leesbaar is. Op de linker zijde is een verwijzing naar de oorsprong te lezen, namelijk Nagoya stad, Chikusa district, Suemoritori (名古屋市千種区末盛通).

Op de rechterzijde staat de leeftijd bevestigd met de graveringsjaar in de traditionele Japanse kalender. Namelijk Shōwa jaar 18 (昭和十八年), wat hetzelfde is als 1943.