Kobukusa

Before Rikyu’s time, there were only kobukusa 古帛紗. It is Rikyu’s wife, Souon, who is credited for creating the first fukusa, whose measurement she made four times as large as a kobukusa.

Kobukusa is about one-fourth the size of a Fukusa. Other items are placed on top of it (in the lower level temaes), either to show that one has a high regard for that particular item (Kazari temae), or to protect the item from the ground (Chabako).

Most guests will have two of these with them when attending a tea gathering.

Other schools use a Dashi-bukusa 出帛紗 instead of a kobukusa. In Urasenke a Dashi-bukusa may always replace a kobukusa and is used the same way. A slightly smaller kobukusa called Shiki-kobukusa 敷古帛紗 is used in Chitose Bon.

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