On Mount Takao, at the Yakuoin Yukiji Temple, in front of the two Tengu statues I noticed a beautiful but unusual metallic decoration representing, at a larger scale, the Buddhist ringed staff called shakujō.

The shakujō was usually made with 4 or 6 rings and was used in prayers, as accompaniment in chanting or simply as a walking stick. However, there are two other quite interesting uses for the shakujō: the monks used to shake the staff so that the ringing noise will scare away the insects from their path, thus avoiding to harm them… And another usage was… as a weapon, against dangerous animals or for self-defense.

Buddhist monk staff (shakujō)

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Night-time in Ginza, San-ai building