Ceremonial Instruments

daikin - large ceremonial bell

inkin - small ceremonial bell

nyo - gong

kaishaku - wood chanting blocks struck to synchronize chanting

mokugyo - wooden fish block used to synchronize ceremonial chanting. It is said a fish never sleeps and so we should be similarly diligent in our practice.

kyo-zukue - sutra table

kyo-hon - sutra

keko - lotus plate, while chanting a priest throws paper lotus petals (sanka) from this plate symbolically recreating the Pure Land

chukei - ceremonial fan

juzu - rosary

shogon juzu - ceremonial rosary

hyakumanben juzu - 1 million nembutsu rosary, used for group chanting of the nembutsu. Followers sit together and hold it while chanting.

hossu - a whisk with animal hair at the top. It is waived by the chief priest of a ceremony three times to begin and end the ceremony. Developed in China, it was originally used to keep insects out of the priest's face without killing them. Popularized by Zen, this waving came to mean the symbolic wiping away of evil energy.

Ceremonial Clothes

kesa - robe (general term)

koromo - colored robes (denoting ecclesiastical rank)

tabi - ceremonial socks

Ceremony Leaders

ina - chant leader

doshi - ceremony leader

shikishu - assistant priest

Level I (top)

honzon - main image, the central image is Amida. Amida is flanked on both sides by Kannon Bodhisattva (Kannon bosatsu) on the left, symbolizing compassion, and Seishi Bodhisattva (Seishi bosatsu) on the right, symbolizing wisdom. These two are Amida's attendants who appear in Amida's saving light to help guide sentient beings to the Pure Land. Sometimes they are augmented or replaced by Honen (left) and Shan-tao [Zendo] (right).

Level II

ihai - memorial tablet

ochato - cup of water or tea

obuppan - rice

Level III

koro - incense burner

senko - stick incense

hotate - candle stands

hana - flowers

Level IV

reizen - meal offering

kendai - stand for memorial records

takatsuki - standing tray for cake and fruit

Level V (bottom)

koro - incense burner

senkotate - container for incense

rin - bell

matchi-keshi - container for used matches

Floor

mokugyo - wooden fish block for chanting

Copyright(c) by 1996-2000 Jodo Shu Research Institute