Chinese Woodblocks

Etymology and Alternative Spellings

Chinese: 木魚
Japanese: もくぎょ
Korean: 목어

Construction

Chinese Woodblocks is a rounded woodblock carved in the shape of a fish and struck with a wooden stick.

History

Chinese Woodblocks is a small hand-held wooden percussion instrument of the Han Chinese, carved in the shape of a fish, possibly a koi. It is used to accompany chants (‘sutras’) in Taoist and Buddhist ceremonies. This stylized fish holds in its mouth the mallet with a ball-like end, symbol of the universe. Having no eyelids, the fish symbolizes wakeful attention and vigilance in devotion. It is classified as a slit drum and was first described as a specifically Buddhist instrument, struck with regular beats to accompany the chanting of monks and nuns. Later it was used in the percussion section of the Cantonese ensembles.

See Also

Moktak - Korean variant of Wooden Fish
Mokugyo - Japanese variant of Wooden Fish