noun
wooden fish drum; temple block
A round, hollow wooden percussion instrument carved with fish scales, used in Buddhist chanting to keep rhythm.
お坊さんが木魚を叩きながらお経を唱えている。
The monk is chanting sutras while striking the wooden fish drum.
From Chinese 木魚 (mùyú), literally 'wooden fish', referring to the instrument's fish-like shape and its symbolic association with wakefulness in Buddhist practice.