This is a dish for 'kaiseki' occasions with chanoyu. It is about 17 cms square. Meal portions served in a tea ceremony are mostly small. Great care is taken in choosing the right sort of food for the occasion, and the appropriate dish for serving. But there is a great deal of difference in the mood of these occasions: sometimes they are socially happy occasions whilst others express a far deeper, contemplative awarenesses. The whole philosophy of, and history of the tea ceremony is extremely interesting. There are many books on the subject but one I especially value is titled Wind in the Pines, by Dennis Hirota, who, apart from his special knowledge on tea-matters is a Pure Land priest, Professor of Shin Buddhist studies in Kyoto.