Hossu

Sojun Mel Weitsman wielding a hossu.

A hossu (払子) is a short staff of wood or bamboo with bundled hair (of a cow, horse, or yak) or hemp wielded by a Zen Buddhist priest.^[1] Often described as a "fly swatter" or "fly shooer", the stick is believed to protect the wielder from desire and also works as a way of ridding areas of flies without killing them.^[2] The hossu is regarded as symbolic of a Zen master's authority to teach and transmit Buddha Dharma to others, and is frequently passed from one master to the next.^[3]

References

1. Mol, Serge (2003). Classical Weaponry of Japan: Special Weapons and Tactics of the Martial Arts. Tokyo: Kodansha International. p. 203. ISBN 4-7700-2941-1.
2. Gill, Robin D. (2004). Fly-ku!: A Theme from In Praise of Olde Haiku with Many More Poems and Fine Elaboration. Key Biscayne, FL: Paraverse Press. pp. 76; pp. 85–86. ISBN 0-9742618-4-X.
3. Baroni, Helen J. (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Zen Buddhism. The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc. p. 139. ISBN 0-8239-2240-5.