【日本庭園の添景物の一つで露地(茶庭)に設置される。茶室に入る前に、手を清めるために置かれた背の低い手水鉢に役石をおいて趣を加えたもの。手水で手を洗うとき「つくばう(しゃがむ)」ことからその名がある。(from Wikipedia)】
(a small basin provided in Japanese Buddhist temples for visitors to purify themselves by theritual washing of hands and rinsing of the mouth (perform ablutions). This type of ritual cleansing is also the custom for guests attending a tea ceremony. )
と。
京都龍安寺のもの(↓)が有名で

at Ryoanji in Kyoto, Japan
ここにデザインされているのが先日の
吾唯足知 ──

吾(ware)
唯(tada)
足ル(taru)ヲ(wo)
知ル(shiru)
のつくばい。
中心の水溜めの正方形を漢字の「口」と見立て
(The central square (□) of the opening of Tukubai is likened to 口, the kanji for a mouth, and each of the four kanji written on surface of it is read in combination with 口.
Then, they can read)
|
[TOP]
| 五 | = | 吾 |
| □ |
namely, 口+五=吾
[RIGHT]
| □ | 隹 | = | 唯 |
namely, 口+隹=唯
[BOTTOM]
| □ | = | 足 |
| 止 |
namely, 口+止=足
[LEFT]
| 矢 | □ | = | 知 |
namely, 口+矢=知
And finally,
吾唯足知 ──
I hope I made myself clear.
Are you with me??