Shippei
A shippei (竹箆, 竹篦) is a bamboo staff which curves slightly, approximately 15 inches[1][a] (or half a metre[3]) long, which is used as a "symbol of a Zen master's authority" in Zen Buddhism.[4] In contrast to the keisaku, the shippei was often used as a disciplinary measure for meditating monks. It can often be found at the side of a Zen master in a zendo and is also "one of seven items that make up a Zen monk's equipment."[3] It is fashioned out of two pieces of bamboo that are shaped into the form of a spatula[2] (or short bow[1]), wound with rattan,[1] and lacquered.[2][b]
Sometimes curved in the shape of an S, the shippei may be elaborately decorated with a silk cord or have carvings. It is still "sometimes employed to hit monks".[6]
See also
[edit | edit source]Explanatory notes
[edit | edit source]- ^ In Japanese measures it is given as 1 shaku 5 sun,[2] or 15 sun, which is approximately 15 inches.
- ^ Although some sources state it is bound with wisteria vine,[4][5] sources in Japanese such as Iwanami dictionary state it is tō (籐; "rattan")[2] and not fuji (藤; "wisteria") although these two characters are easily confounded.
References
[edit | edit source]- Citations
- Bibliography
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