Antique Japanese Carved Ritual Instrument
Mokugyo
Wooden Fish Gong
Seal Mark. Circa, early 1900s'
H 8.5 in.(22cm), W 7 in.(18cm), D 6 in.(15cm)
Condition: Very good!
A Mokugyo is a musical instrument of Chinese origins. It emits a sharp percussive soundand when struck with a wooden
mallet . It is used in meditation rituals in Japan, Korea, China and other Asian countries. Mokugyo are found in various
sizes and shapes, ranging from a few inches for private practice, to the largest 3.5 ft. mokugyo located at the Hasedera
Temple in Kamakura Japan. This mid size rendition is carved in the traditional design of the mokugyo, with two dragon
fish heads and a wisdom pearl to form the handle, a bulbous cavity comprises the sounding block, the instrument is
hollowed with a cavity ridge around the base, and the motif is rendered in perfect symmetry with deeply carved fish scales
on two sides. Aged lacquer with an attractive red, this antique mokugyo has a few mallet strike marks from usage in the past,
but otherwise the piece is in excellent condition.