Kyūdaisu is an abridged form of kyūdai daisu 及第台子. Also written 弓台子. An informal type of portable shelf *daisu 台子, with two posts connecting the top and bottom boards. It was used at tea ceremonies as a stand on which to place tea utensils that include: the ladle *hishaku 柄杓, the tongs for handing charcoal *hibashi 火箸, and its container *shakutate 杓立; the waste water bowl *kensui 建水; the water vessel *mizusashi 水指; and the tea caddy *chaki 茶器. The portable charcoal brazier *furo 風炉 was also placed on the kyūdaisu at times. Sen no Rikyū 千利休 (1522-91) favored a portable shelf of Japanese cypress coated thinly with black lacquer. It was 57 cm high, with a top board that was about 89 cm x 42 cm and a bottom board that was little smaller, 88 cm x 38 cm. He used it with either a portable brazier or with a fixed firebox *ro 炉. Sen Sōtan 千宗旦 (1578-1658), a third generation tea master, preferred a kyūdaisu made of mulberry with the grain visible. This was used with a fixed firebox and was 55 cm high. The top board was 70.5 cm x 36 cm and the bottom board 72 cm x 38 cm.
