Difference between revisions of "Hossu"
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[[File:Mel Weitsman1.JPG|thumb|right|150px|[[Sojun Mel Weitsman]] wielding a hossu.]] | [[File:Mel Weitsman1.JPG|thumb|right|150px|[[Sojun Mel Weitsman]] wielding a hossu.]] | ||
A hossu (払子) is a short staff of wood or bamboo with bundled hair (of a cow, horse, or yak) or hemp wielded by a Zen Buddhist priest. Often described as a "fly swatter" or "fly shooer", the stick is believed to protect the wielder from desire and also works as a way of ridding areas of flies without killing them. The hossu is regarded as symbolic of a Zen master's authority to teach and transmit Buddha Dharma to others, and is frequently passed from one master to the next. | A hossu (払子) is a short staff of wood or bamboo with bundled hair (of a cow, horse, or yak) or hemp wielded by a Zen Buddhist priest. Often described as a "fly swatter" or "fly shooer", the stick is believed to protect the wielder from desire and also works as a way of ridding areas of flies without killing them. The hossu is regarded as symbolic of a Zen master's authority to teach and transmit Buddha Dharma to others, and is frequently passed from one master to the next. | ||
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[[Category:Zen Terms]] | [[Category:Zen Terms]] | ||
[[Category:Buddhist Terms]] | [[Category:Buddhist Terms]] | ||
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Revision as of 06:51, 26 January 2013
Sojun Mel Weitsman wielding a hossu.
A hossu (払子) is a short staff of wood or bamboo with bundled hair (of a cow, horse, or yak) or hemp wielded by a Zen Buddhist priest. Often described as a "fly swatter" or "fly shooer", the stick is believed to protect the wielder from desire and also works as a way of ridding areas of flies without killing them. The hossu is regarded as symbolic of a Zen master's authority to teach and transmit Buddha Dharma to others, and is frequently passed from one master to the next.
