also: ちゅうじょう
Especially a staff used by a monk during a pilgrimage or as a support while walking. The reading しゅじょう is standard; ちゅうじょう is rare.
The pilgrim monk walked the mountain path with a staff in hand.
Standard kanji form; reading しゅじょう is more common than ちゅうじょう.
Alternate reading; less common and may be considered non-standard or archaic.
Compound of 手 (hand) and 杖 (staff/cane). The reading しゅじょう uses the on'yomi of both characters; ちゅうじょう is a variant reading of uncertain origin, possibly influenced by historical or dialectal factors.