Wooden fish

The wooden fish (Japanese Mokugyo木鱼, Chinese木鱼/木鱼, Pinyin Muyu, kor. Moktak ) is a Idiophone of wood, which is part of the log drums. In contrast to the block of wood of the wooden fish is hollowed out through a slit or a circular hole partially. It is used in various Mahayana traditions of Buddhism, especially in Japan, China, Korea and Vietnam as an accompanying instrument in recitations. In Zen / Chan Buddhism it is also used as a signal for the beginning and end of a unit and meditation in Buddhism Amitabha Amitabha also as an accompaniment to singing.

Meaning and form

The Korean word " Moktak " has two parts: " mok " means chop wood and " tak ". In Japan, this instrument " mokugyo " is called, which translates as " wooden fish " means. This name comes from the original form of the instrument, which resembles a fish with an open mouth. Since fish do not sleep, they are a symbol for vigilance among other things in Buddhism. The Mokugyo should therefore remind the reciter to being with all her concentration while reciting Sutra. There are Mokuyos in various sizes: from tens of centimeters to over a meter.

Today Mokugyos are usually no longer manufactured in the form of a fish head, but only have a spherical shape with ornaments. A special form is still used in Buddhist monasteries in Japan by the monks in the morning, and at noon to call for food. It is a Mokugyo in the form of whole fish.

Formation

There are many legends about the origin of this musical instrument, most of them play in China. One of these legends tells of a Chinese Buddhist who went to India to Buddhist texts ( Sutras ) to obtain. On his way to India, he had to cross a wide river, but had neither a boat nor was a bridge there. At this moment, a large fish floating on the surface. The Buddhist sat on his back and the fish brought him safely to the other side. The fish told then that he has committed in his previous life as a human being a bad deed, he is now trying to make amends and asks the Buddhists the Buddha to ask if the fish could be a Bodhisattva.

The Buddhist agreed, and continued his journey, which lasted a total of seventeen years. After receiving the Buddhist texts, he made his way back to China. When he wanted to cross the river, was the same fish again. Again, he helped the Buddhists to cross the river. The Buddhist, however, had forgotten his promise. As the learned of the fish, he got angry and threw the Buddhists including the sutras into the river. A fisherman who happened to be nearby, rescued the Buddhists. The sutras were gone but unfortunately in the floods.

As the Buddhist came home he was full of anger. The journey of seventeen was in vain. He carved full of anger from a piece of wood a fish head. In memory of his fate he struck with a mallet on these fish head. To his surprise, the wooden fish opened its mouth at the hit and said a letter of the Sutra. From now on, he beat the fish head so often he found time and was able to so after a few years, the long-lost sutras regain letter for letter.