This stone water basin is shaped like a natsume, which means "tea container" in Japanese.
Normally the `Natsume –bachi is sited near to the house.
The stone water basin has had a time honored place in Japanese gardens for centuries. Stone water basins or "chozubachi" originated in ancient shrines and temples for worshipers to wash their hands and rinse their mouths before entering the shrine as an act of purifying the mind and body. The water basin originated as "chozubachi's", which were usually 16" or taller in height. Tea-masters later redesigned the bowls for Japanese tea gardens to the height of 12" or shorter to create the "tsukubai". The tsukubai or crouching bowl was designed to humble guest and create the right state of mind before guests joined the tea ceremony. Many Japanese gardens today have both the chozubachi and tsukubai and are often fed with water from a bamboo spout called "kakei".