The tin staff is a kind of instrument held by Buddhist monks. It is decorated with a metal ring and makes a sound when shaken.

The origin of the tin staff is said to be that the Buddha allowed monks to make a staff that could make sounds in order to prevent monks from frightening donors or driving away poisonous insects when begging for food.

In addition to self-defense and begging, the tin staff also symbolizes wisdom, virtue, legal nature, Taoism, etc. The tin staff is also a magical weapon of many Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. For example, the gold and tin staff of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva can open the door of hell and save all living beings.

 

The tin staff is one of the eighteen items of clothing for monks and is a tool that monks should carry when traveling. In the Zen forest, the tin staff has certain functions and symbolic meanings.

 

The name "tin stick" comes from the sound of "tin tin" when the tin stick is vibrated. The tin staff is also called the wisdom staff and the virtue staff. "The Tin Staff Sutra" says: "The Buddha told the bhikkhu: You should accept and hold the tin staff. Why? All Buddhas in the past and future have held it. It is also called the wisdom staff, because it manifests holy wisdom. It is also called the virtue staff, because it is the basis of meritorious deeds. . The symbol of the saint, the clear record of the wise, and the main pillar of Taoism."

 

Regarding the reasons why monks hold tin sticks, the "Three Thousand Dignity Sutras of Great Bhikkhus" says: "One is because of snakes and insects, the second is because of old age, and the third is because of guarding." As for the tin stick, it is used to drive away snakes, poisonous insects, etc. The function of things is said in Volume 52 of "Four-Fun Law": "When monks see snakes, scorpions, centipedes, and hundreds of feet on their way, the monks who have not left their desires are all frightened when they see them, and they turn to the Buddha. The Buddha said: 'Listen to the shaking of the tin stick. ' This means that when the Buddha was alive, some bhikkhus were walking on the road and saw snakes, scorpions, poisonous insects and other things, and they were frightened. Some bhikkhus were even bitten, so the Buddha said that they should make tin sticks with sound to disperse the poisonous insects.

 

The tin staff can also be used as a support for the elderly, sick and weak. The tin staff also has the function of alerting the benefactor and for self-defense. For example, "Vinaiya Miscellaneous Affairs" says: "Bi Cuo entered other people's homes begging for food, making alarm calls, and punching the doors. The family members asked strange questions. The Buddha said: 'It should be made of a tin staff.' Bi Cuo was puzzled, and the Buddha said: 'The head of the staff should be decorated with a tungsten rod. , round like the mouth of a lamp, with a small ring attached. Shake it to make a sound to alert you. When the dog barks, use a tin stick to beat it. The Buddha said: "You should not beat a dog with a stick, but raise it to scare it." When there is a vicious dog, it will be frightened. The drama of anger. The Buddha said: "Take a piece of rice and throw it on the ground to eat." When the unbelievers shake the tin for a long time, they will become tired, but the family members have no questions. The Buddha said: "It should not be shaken for a long time, but it can be shaken for a long time." Shake it three times, and when no one asks, you must go.'"

 

It can be seen from the above scriptures that the tin staff was not only used to drive away pests, or especially for the elderly to support themselves, but also for monks to alert donors when begging for food. The sutra specifically points out that if a monk is begging for food and a dog barks at the donor's house, the tin stick can also be used to defend himself and frighten the dog, but the tin stick cannot be used to beat the dog. If the dog's barking intensifies, you can take food from the alms bowl for the dog to eat. The danger of barking dogs can be resolved.

 

A tin stick usually consists of tin, a wooden handle, and two or three parts. Tin is the head of the staff, which is in the shape of a tapa, with a large ring attached and several small rings hanging from it. When shaken, it makes a sound of "tin tin", so the tin staff is also called a sounding staff.

 

In ancient times, when monks went to various places to study and travel, they must hold a tin staff. Therefore, they were called Feixi and Xunxi in the Zen forest. "Jingde Chuandeng Lu" records the famous flying tin story of Zen Master Yinfeng. Zen Master Yinfeng lived in Hengyue in winter and Qingliang Mountain in summer. During the Yuanhe period of the Tang Dynasty (806-820), when the Zen master climbed Mount Wutai and went out of Huaixi, he happened to encounter Wu Yuanji who blocked his troops and violated the king's order. The officers and soldiers clashed with the thieves, and the fight was fierce, with the outcome unresolved. The Zen Master thought to himself: "I should go and relieve the trouble." Zen Master Yinfeng threw tin in the air and flew over the two armies. When the soldiers on both sides saw the Zen Master flying in the air, they all opened their mouths in surprise, and their hearts were fighting with each other. extinguished. After Zen Master Yinfeng showed his supernatural powers, he was worried that he would be suspected of using his supernatural powers to confuse people, so he came to Mount Wutai and died in front of the King Kong Cave. In addition, in ancient Zen forests, if an eminent monk stopped at one place, it was called Zhuxi or Guoxi.

 

In ancient Zen forests, the tin staff was often used as an aid for Zen masters to seek Dharma and enlightenment. "The Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch's Dharma Treasure Altar" says: "When Zen Master Xuanjue of Yongjia came to visit, he walked around him three times, vibrating the tin and stood up." Zen Master Xuanjue paid homage to Zen Master Huineng, the Sixth Patriarch, circled around him three times, and then raised his tin staff to the ground. Zen Master Huineng said: "My husband, a recluse, has three thousand majestic appearances and eighty thousand meticulous conduct. Where does this great virtue come from, and why is he so conceited?" Xuanjue said: "Life and death are great matters, and they are impermanent and rapid." Hui Neng said: " Why not realize that there is no birth, and there is no speed?" Xuanjue replied: "The body is lifelessness, and there is no speed in the end." Huineng said, "That's it! That's it!" , and left after a while. Zen Master Huineng stayed there for one night, so it was called "one night's sleep". Xuanjue demonstrated his understanding of Zen to Huineng with the extraordinary movements of his tin staff, and tested how Huineng would teach. After being confirmed by Zen Master Huineng, Xuanjue was convinced.

 

Depending on the shape of the tin stick, it also symbolizes different meanings. "The Tin Staff Sutra" says: The tin staff has three talons, which represent that by remembering the three sufferings, one can cultivate precepts, concentration, and wisdom; by remembering the three disasters of old age, illness, and death, one can eliminate the three poisons of greed, anger, and ignorance, etc. As for the four strands, it cuts off the reincarnation of the four births (vivibirth, egg-birth, moisture-birth, and metamorphosis), or represents the four truths of suffering, gathering, and suffering.

 

The good thing Guanyin Bodhisattva said about people who don’t need money is exactly what the later Tang Monk was referring to.

 

After Tang Seng became the squad leader of the Xitian Buddhist scriptures project team, during the 14 years of traveling for Buddhist scriptures, he didn’t usually wear the Jinlan cassock, but he held a nine-ring tin staff anytime and anywhere.

 

In the four famous works "Journey to the West", Tang Monk is not the only one who holds the Buddhist staff - the nine-ring tin staff. Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, one of the four great Bodhisattvas, is the leader of the Netherworld who is in charge of the eighteen palaces of hell. He also has a similar staff in his hand.

Tang Monk’s staff is a nine-ring tin staff. What is the name of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s Zen staff? Can open the door to hell

It is so precious that on the way to the West, the Tathagata Buddha gave two magic weapons as a gift to Guanyin Bodhisattva: the Jinlan cassock and the nine-ring tin staff. Tang Monk almost always carried them with him.

The reason why Monk Tang regarded them as treasures was not only because of the magical powers of these two Buddhist magic weapons, but also because the person who gave them to him was extremely powerful and magical.

When Tathagata Buddha ordered people to hand over the cassock and tin staff to Guanyin Bodhisattva, he introduced the value and function of the magic weapon.

Wearing a Jinlan cassock can protect you from the six paths of reincarnation; holding a nine-ring tin staff can protect you from the five poisons of spirits and monsters.

At the Huasheng Temple in Chang'an City of the Eastern Tang Dynasty, Guanyin Bodhisattva first showed the shining magic weapon to Tang Wang Li Shimin, and told him and Prime Minister Xiao Yu: These two Buddhist treasures are extraordinary treasures. One of the cassocks is draped with a strand of dragon to avoid being swallowed by the big roc; with a strand of crane draped on it, it brings the wonder of becoming a saint. But wherever you sit, there are thousands of gods paying homage; whenever you do something, there are seven Buddhas with you...

"The Jinlan cassock costs five thousand taels of gold, and the tin staff costs two thousand taels of gold..." Guanyin Bodhisattva also added: The prerequisite for this price is that someone has a predestined relationship with Buddhism. There are advantages and disadvantages, and it requires money. There are places where there is no money.

If you are a person who is determined and dedicated to practicing and learning scriptures, wearing Jinlan Kasana will prevent you from sinking, falling into hell, suffering from evil, and not encountering tigers and wolves; this is a benefit; if you are a person who is greedy for sexual pleasure and enjoys misfortune, Monks, monks who do not fast and abstain from precepts, ordinary people who slander scriptures and slander the Buddha, it is useless to put on the Buddha's robes and cassocks. This is not good. If he does not obey the Dharma and respects the Three Jewels, and forcefully buys a cassock and a tin staff, I will definitely charge him seven thousand taels of gold. If he is a virtuous and eminent monk who takes refuge in my Buddha and can afford the cassock and tin staff, I will form a good relationship with him. I am willing to give it to him for free, which means no money.

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