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What makes this mokugyo special
The look and feel up close
The wood is warm amber-brown with a honeyed tone where light catches the grain, deepening toward the carved areas where the patina has collected over decades. The fish scales are cut in sharp, layered rows, each scale distinct, the chisel lines still clean and precise.
The hollow interior amplifies the resonance: when you tap the drum, the sound is dry and immediate, dropping away cleanly rather than ringing on.
Charming details
Every mokugyo carries the same carved figure: a fish circling a pearl. The fish is there because it never closes its eyes, it a reminder to practitioners to maintain the same unbroken attention through the rhythm of chanting. The pearl has a different meaning. In Buddhist iconography it represents bonnō, the mental defilements: desire, distraction, the things that pull the mind away from practice.
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This mokugyo bears the 玉鱗 (Gyokurin) quality mark: a grade designation for marking pieces carved at the highest level of the tradition.
Mokugyo of this carving grade were produced for active use in Buddhist temples, primarily within the Zen, Tendai, and Jōdo traditions.
Included: used vintage brocade patchwork cushion in purple and gold, and a new striker.
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Ichinomiya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
Ca. 1910–1940, late Meiji to early Shōwa era.
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Dimensions: ca 17.5 cm
Width: ca 16 cm
Deep: ca 12 cm
Weight: 429 grams
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Aged hardwood with warm natural patina throughout.
Small chip on the side of the dragon neck, visible on close inspection.
No cracks, no structural repairs.
Sound is clear.
Cushion shows age-consistent wear.
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Keep this mokugyo away from direct heat and prolonged humidity, both of which can cause old hardwood to crack or warp.
Dust with a dry cloth or one barely dampened with water.
A light application of natural beeswax paste once a year will protect the wood without altering the existing patina.
*Decorative items such as a tatami mat or wooden plank are
for styling purposes only and not included in the sale
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