also: さくじょう
noun
Buddhist monk's staff; khakkhara
A staff topped with metal rings, traditionally carried by Buddhist monks. The jingling sound is said to warn small creatures and announce the monk's presence. The term is specific to Buddhist contexts.
修行僧は錫杖を持って歩いた。
The ascetic monk walked carrying a khakkhara staff.
錫杖の輪がシャンシャンと
The rings of the monk's staff jingle.
Obsolete kana reading; not used in modern Japanese.
A plain wooden staff used by pilgrims, especially on the Shikoku pilgrimage, without metal rings. 錫杖 is specifically the ringed Buddhist staff.
From Chinese 錫杖 (xīzhàng), literally 'tin staff', referring to the metal rings. The Japanese reading しゃくじょう is the on'yomi. The alternate reading さくじょう is obsolete.