• An old Buddhist temple gyoban; a long plank of wood shaped like a fish and used as a drum to summon monks to gatherings. The fish is carved from a large and heavy piece of wood. The scales, big eye and fin, etched into the wood, give the fish form.
  • An old Buddhist temple gyoban; a long plank of wood shaped like a fish and used as a drum to summon monks to gatherings. The fish is carved from a large and heavy piece of wood. The scales, big eye and fin, etched into the wood, give the fish form.
  • An old Buddhist temple gyoban; a long plank of wood shaped like a fish and used as a drum to summon monks to gatherings. The fish is carved from a large and heavy piece of wood. The scales, big eye and fin, etched into the wood, give the fish form.
  • An old Buddhist temple gyoban; a long plank of wood shaped like a fish and used as a drum to summon monks to gatherings. The fish is carved from a large and heavy piece of wood. The scales, big eye and fin, etched into the wood, give the fish form.
  • An old Buddhist temple gyoban; a long plank of wood shaped like a fish and used as a drum to summon monks to gatherings. The fish is carved from a large and heavy piece of wood. The scales, big eye and fin, etched into the wood, give the fish form.
  • An old Buddhist temple gyoban; a long plank of wood shaped like a fish and used as a drum to summon monks to gatherings. The fish is carved from a large and heavy piece of wood. The scales, big eye and fin, etched into the wood, give the fish form.
  • An old Buddhist temple gyoban; a long plank of wood shaped like a fish and used as a drum to summon monks to gatherings. The fish is carved from a large and heavy piece of wood. The scales, big eye and fin, etched into the wood, give the fish form.
  • An old Buddhist temple gyoban; a long plank of wood shaped like a fish and used as a drum to summon monks to gatherings. The fish is carved from a large and heavy piece of wood. The scales, big eye and fin, etched into the wood, give the fish form.
  • An old Buddhist temple gyoban; a long plank of wood shaped like a fish and used as a drum to summon monks to gatherings. The fish is carved from a large and heavy piece of wood. The scales, big eye and fin, etched into the wood, give the fish form.
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large buddhist temple fish drum, summoning fish drum, gyoban

large buddhist temple fish drum, summoning fish drum, gyoban

¥70,127 JPY
¥70,127 JPY
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Love Japanese Style Like We Do

An old Buddhist temple gyoban; a long plank of wood shaped like a fish and used as a drum to summon monks to gatherings.

This is a wonderfully massive piece, measuring 82 cm (32.2”) across. The fish is carved from a large and heavy piece of wood. The scales, big eye and fin, etched into the wood, give the fish form. There is a large, round pearl in the fish mouth, symbolizing unity.

The fish drum is covered in a deep red lacquer. The lacquer has wear and there are areas where the wood shows through, adding to it’s vintage appeal.

The gyoban is in good vintage condition with signs of use and a little surface peeling.

A nice piece of temple art and a great interior display item.

- fish measures around 82 cm (32.3”) across x 28 cm (11”) high x 11 cm (4.3”) deep.
- weighs 5,500 gm.

(listing for fish drum only)

SHIPPING INFORMATION
- please read the notes in our shipping policy.
- we use recycle packaging wherever possible and wrap for safety, rather than appearance!

ABOUT OUR VINTAGE AND ANTIQUE ITEMS
We list pieces we feel are worthy of display. There may be scratches, dents, fading and signs of wear and tear. We try to explain the condition of each item exactly, but may miss something.

Information regarding the item and it’s age is obtained from dealers and our personal research. We do our best to give you the correct information but please be aware that we cannot guarantee this information.

Please message us prior to purchase with any questions you may have about our products.

GYOBAN-FISH BOARD DRUM
The gyoban is a long wooden board, shaped like a fish, and was used as a Zen Buddhist drum. The fish is carved on the surface with an uroko, or fish scale pattern and holds a round pearl in its mouth. It was usually hung outside temple doors and was struck to announce meal times, meditation and other gatherings for monks. It is believed that each time the gyoban is struck in the belly, desire is dispelled.

The origin of the fish shape is not clear, but some say the gyoban fish form is because fish do not close their eyes when sleeping. This reminds monks to always be alert and concentrate on their sutras; the drum sound symbolizing wakeful attention.

There is also a legend where a Chinese Buddhist monk was walking to India to collect sutras. He came to a fast flowing river. A large fish came out of the water and offered to take the monk to the other side. Halfway across the river, the fish said he wanted to atone for a crime committed when he was a human. He asked the monk, if he met Buddha, to find out what was needed for the fish to become a bodhisattva. The monk quickly agreed.

It took the monk 17 years to gather the sutras. When he was returning to China he came to the same fast, dangerous river. Again, the fish came out of the water, offering to take the monk across. On the way, he asked the monk if he had fulfilled his request. The monk said he had forgotten and the angry fish threw the monk into the river and swam away. The monk was saved from drowning by a fisherman, but the sutras were all lost and destroyed.

The monk was so angry that he had a fish carved out of wood. As he recalled the misfortune of his wasted 17 years of searching for the sutras, he beat the fish with a hammer. Each time he hit the fish he was surprised to discover that a Chinese character came out of the fish’s mouth until finally, years later, all the lost sutras were recovered.

The gyoban board or plank was the first wooden fish drum to be developed and it gradually evolved into the round, hollow wooden fish used by Buddhists today.
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