A hossu (払子, Chinese: Fuzi, 拂子; Sanskrit: vālavyajana) 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.[1] Often described as a "fly whisk" 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.[2] The hossu is regarded as symbolic of a Zen teacher's authority to teach and transmit Buddha Dharma to others, and is frequently passed from one teacher to the next.[3]
References
- ↑ Classical Weaponry of Japan: Special Weapons and Tactics of the Martial Arts{{#if:Mol|, Mol}. Kodansha International(2003). ISBN 4-7700-2941-1
- ↑ Fly-ku!: A Theme from In Praise of Olde Haiku with Many More Poems and Fine Elaboration{{#if:Gill|, Gill}. Paraverse Press(2004). ISBN 0-9742618-4-X
- ↑ The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Zen Buddhism{{#if:Baroni|, Baroni}. The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.(2002). ISBN 0-8239-2240-5