Sunday, May 31, 2009 The wooden fish

A wooden fish, also known as a Chinese block, is a wooden percussion instrument. It is usually used by monks in rituals. It can not only be found in Japan, but also in other East Asian countries like China and Korea. In Buddhist traditions, the wooden fish is used for the rhythm during the sutra chanting or chanting the name of Amitabha.

There are two types of wooden fish. The traditional one is round and made of wood. The fish is hollow with an edge on the exterior of the fish to help to produce the hollow sound when striking the fish. Its shape is kind of like a jingle bell. The other type of wooden fish is shaped as a fish.

The sound produced varies, depending on its size, the type of wood used and how hollow the wooden fish is. The wooden fish has fish scales carvings on top, and two fish heads embracing a pearl on the handle. This represents unity. Buddhists believe that the fish that never sleeps symbolises wakefulness. Thus, using the wooden fish in sutra chanting reminds the monks to concentrate.

The wooden fish can have different sizes and shapes. They are often placed on the left side of the altar, beside a bell bowl in temples. Sometimes, they are placed on a small embroidered cushion to prevent damage to the instrument.

The origin of the wooden fish is actually China, according to a legend. It says that one day, a Chinese Buddhist monk went to India to obtain sutras. However, the way to India was blocked by a wide river. There was no bridge or boat for him to use. At that moment, a big fish appeared and offered to ferry the monk across. The fish said that it wanted to make up for a crime it had committed when it was human. The fish requested the monk to find a method to guide the fish to attain Bodhisattvahood.

The monk agreed. After getting the scriptures he needed, he returned to China, but was stopped by the river again. The fish approached him again, and it asked the monk if he had found the method. The monk realised that he had forgotten. The fish was so angry and washed the monk into the river. Luckily, he was saved by a fisherman, but the scriptures were lost.
This time, it was the monk’s turn to get angry. He made a wooden fish head and beat the fish head with a wooden hammer. To his surprise, each time he beat the fish, the fish would vomit out a character. After a few years, he had the complete scriptures that he had lost in the river.
The Wooden fish is also used in the Chinese Orchestra. It is used to deliver the solemn feel to the music.