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Words Kanji Guides About

笏しゃく拍びょう子し

しゃ

く

びょ

う

し

Meanings

1

noun

clapper (gagaku instrument)

A pair of long wooden sticks clapped together, used in gagaku court music. The reading さくほうし is a rare alternative.

雅が楽がくでは、笏しゃく拍びょう子しで拍ひょう子しをとる。
In gagaku, the rhythm is kept with the shakubyōshi clapper.

Written forms

笏拍子
- しゃくびょうし
  Standard kanji spelling for the gagaku clapper.
- さくほうし
尺拍子
- しゃくびょうし
  Variant kanji spelling using 尺 instead of 笏.
- さくほうし
さくほうし

Kanji

笏mace, baton, scepter
拍clap, beat (music)
子child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM
尺shaku, Japanese foot, measure

Similar words

拍ひょう子し木ぎ
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.

Etymology

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.