Wood block
Vernacular Name
- Mokugyo
- Muyu
Date1900-1925 ca.
Place MadeChina, Asia
Serial No.none
SignednoneMarkingsSeveral characters carved on one side of instrument.
DescriptionCarved, wooden slit drum, commonly referred to as a temple block. Hollow, unfinished interior. Exterior body lacquered red with black-and-gold details. The Chinese muyu is struck to invoke a sense of watchfulness since it is symbolic of a fish, which is thought to remain awake both day and night. The mokugyo, imported into Japan sometime during the 13th century, is identical to its Chinese ancestor. Slit drums like this are often paired with the kin (bowl gong) during the recitation of sutra in the Zen Buddhist tradition.
DimensionsHeight: 360 mm
Credit LineArne B. Larson Collection, 1979
Object number02436
On View
Not on view
1850-1875 ca.
1870 ca.
1600-1867 ca.
1850 ca.
1825-1875 ca.