noun
A pair of long wooden sticks clapped together, used in gagaku court music. The reading さくほうし is a rare alternative.
雅楽では、笏拍子で拍子をとる。
In gagaku, the rhythm is kept with the shakubyōshi clapper.
拍子木 are shorter, thicker wooden clappers used in festivals and sumo, while 笏拍子 are longer and thinner, used specifically in gagaku.
The name combines 笏 (shaku, a ritual baton) and 拍子 (hyōshi, rhythm), referring to its shape and use. The exact historical origin is uncertain.