Ritual Staff (Shakujō)
Not on view
In Japan, the shakujō usually consists of a wooden handle or pole topped with a metal finial with two sections, each with three rings. When begging, a monk rattles this staff to announce his arrival at the door or gate of a household without breaking his vow of silence. The shakujō is still used by followers of shugendō, an ascetic Buddhist practice undertaken in mountainous areas.
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