Waste water bowl vs tea boat
Two solutions to the water a gongfu session generates — rinsing, warming, discarded first infusions — and the choice is a choice about the table. The bowl sits beside the pot and takes everything; the boat sits under it and catches what runs off.
equipment
What is being compared
Point by point
| Aspect | Waste water bowl (jianshui) | Tea boat |
|---|---|---|
| Position | Beside the brewing vessel. | Directly under it. |
| What it catches | Everything, but only what is poured into it deliberately. | Water poured over and around the pot, without any aiming. |
| Table space | Compact; it suits a small table. | Needs room under the vessel. |
| Effect on the pot | None. | Allows the pot to be bathed in hot water during the session, which holds its temperature. |
| Emptying | Occasionally, and it holds a session’s worth. | More often, since the volume is smaller. |
| Alternative it replaces | A draining tray, which needs plumbing or a reservoir. | The same. |
The short answer
The boat does one thing the bowl cannot — keep the vessel hot by surrounding it — and the bowl does one thing the boat cannot, which is fit on a small table. A session with neither is possible and involves a great deal of walking to the sink.
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