Shakujo
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A shakujō (Japanese: 錫杖, Sanskrit: khakkhara, Mandarin xīzhàng, literally "tin stick") is a Buddhist ringed staff. The jingling of the staff's rings is used to warn small sentient beings (i.e. insects) of the potentially harmful/squashing consequences the walking of its carrier may bring about. Ringing also is used to alert the faithful that there is a monk within earshot in need of alms. The number of rings is determined by the status of the user though most shakujō have six rings which represent the six states of existence (Humans, Animals, Hell, Hungry ghosts, Gods, and Jealous gods).
In Chinese monasteries, the abbot of the temple usually wields the staff during grand ceremonies. The abbot would usually take the shakujō and strike the ground three times, symbolizing the breaking of ignorance.
The wooden shaft can either be long for use as a walking stick or short to accompany in chanting. As a staff, the shakujō could be wielded as a weapon, in Chinese wuxia novels the shakujō is often the weapon of warrior monks, especially those of Shaolin temple.
[edit] Famous carriers of shakujō
- Probably the most notable carrier of the staff is the bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, the patron saint of children and travellers. He is usually depicted holding a shakujō in his right hand.
- Tengu are often depicted carrying/fighting with a shakujō.
- Miroku, the lecherous monk, and Miyatsu, the former's grandfather, from the manga/anime Inuyasha carries a shakujō.
- Kujaku, a mysterious character from the manga RG Veda, is often depicted with a shakujō in hand. He does not have one in the OVA, but the seeress in both manga and anime uses one when making the great prophecy which drives the entire plot.
- Nankobo Tenkai wields this type of weapon in Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams.
- Sakuyamon, a goddess like monster from the Digimon anime series, wields a golden shakujō which she uses to control devastating elemental magics and ward off dark spirits and foes.
- Chichiri, a wizard and one of the Suzaku Senshi, from the manga/anime Fushigi Yūgi uses a shakujō in his spellcasting.
- In the anime Ronin Warriors, "The Ancient", a monk, carries an enchanted shakujō, also used for spellcasting. Usually the rings will "dance" by themselves before magic activates.
- Outlaw Star, another anime, features a character named Ronald MacDougall who wields a mystical Caster gun that resembles a shakujō.
- Rezo, the Red Priest, in the anime series Slayers carries a shakujō.
- Sha Gojyō, a character in the manga/anime Saiyuki, carries a double-headed yuèyáchǎn staff that is incorrectly referred to as a shakujō.
