The ball in the fish's mouth represents 'bonnō' (煩悩), bad mental states (such as greed, jealousy and ignorance) that cloud one's mind.
Hitting the kaipan helps the fish 'spit out' the 'bonnō', the sound reminding the monks of their spiritual duties.
Signpost directing visitors to the kaipan.
Manpuku-ji's 'kaipan' is a fish-shaped board struck to alert monks to mealtimes, lectures and daily tasks.
Manpuku-ji's 'kaipan' is a fish-shaped board struck to alert monks to mealtimes, lectures and daily tasks.
The ball in the kaipan's mouth represents bad mental states.
🐉...
The layout of Manpuku-ji's structures and grounds is said to represent the abstract body of a dragon...the buildings and corridors its limbs, the paths its spine and scales, and the pond its gaping mouth.
Straight, unbending paths link all of Manpuku-ji's great halls.
Manpuku-ji's pond sits in front of the main gate.
Diamond shaped stones act as paths linking the main structures of Manpuku-ji together.
A dragon dance in lantern form.
