inverted bowl-shaped bell; Buddhist ritual bell
A metal bell shaped like an inverted bowl, struck during sutra recitation in Buddhist ceremonies. The kanji 磬 is specialized and rare.
The monk chanted sutras while striking the bell.
An old ritual bell is preserved at this temple.
Specialized kanji for a Buddhist ritual bell; rarely encountered outside religious contexts.
Kana spelling is practical for learners and in general writing, as the kanji is uncommon.
The kanji 磬 is composed of 殸 (stone chime) and 石 (stone), originally referring to a stone percussion instrument. The Japanese word きん is a Sino-Japanese reading, likely borrowed from Chinese Buddhist terminology.