Finial of a Buddhist Monk’s Staff (Shakujō)

Finial of a Buddhist Monk’s Staff (Shakujō)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Jizō Bosatsu (bodhisattva) is usually represented as a gentle, boyish monk holding a wish-granting jewel (mani) in his left hand, and in his right a (shakujō), or monk’s staff with six jangling rings to indicate his travels to succor creatures in need. Mendicant monks observed a rule of silence; they carried such a staff to announce their approach and to frighten away insects and animals lest they inadvertently tread on them. The six rings symbolize the Six Realms of Existence where Jizō is active and the Six Perfections that lead to nirvana: generosity, morality, patience, vigor, concentration, and wisdom. This shakujō finial bears an inscription that commemorates its dedication to a shrine or temple on the sacred mountain at Itsukushima. It has been displayed with this statue since early in the twentieth century.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Finial of a Buddhist Monk’s Staff (Shakujō)Finial of a Buddhist Monk’s Staff (Shakujō)Finial of a Buddhist Monk’s Staff (Shakujō)Finial of a Buddhist Monk’s Staff (Shakujō)Finial of a Buddhist Monk’s Staff (Shakujō)

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.