Khakkhara

A khakkhara (Sanskrit: खक्खर; Tibetan: འཁར་གསིལ, THL: khar sil; Chinese: 錫杖; pinyin: xīzhàng; Japanese pronunciation: shakujō; Korean: 석장; romaja: seokjang; Vietnamese: tích trượng; lit.

[3] Originally used as a noisemaker to announce a monk's presence and frighten away animals, it was adapted for use as a rhythmic instrument during chanting and sutra recitation, and for use as a weapon.

[4][5][6] It is also known as a "tiger pewter staff" (Chinese: 虎錫; pinyin: Hǔ xī), due to its traditional use of driving away predatory animals.

[citation needed] The earliest recorded description of a khakkhara is in the writings of the Chinese pilgrim monk Yijing who traveled between China, Indonesia, and India in the years 671 to 695 AD.

When ascending the platform during large ceremonies, the abbot takes the khakkhara and strikes the ground three times while shaking it, symbolizing the breaking of ignorance and calling out to all beings.

Alternatively, a monk who dwells comfortably in a monastery may be referred to as "Gua xi" (Chinese: 掛錫; pinyin: Guà xī) (hung-up staff).

The temple's legendary account tells that in 795, Kōbō-Daishi used his staff to break the ground and pull water in order to save the nearby village from drought.

(Chinese: 豈浮屠錫杖所能救而出之者乎; pinyin: Qǐ fútú xízhàng suǒ néng jiù ér chū zhī zhě hū)?