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Kanshō, 喚鐘, calling bell
The Kanshō is a medium-size bell near the altar area of the Hondō. It is rung immediately before the start of a ritual or service to call the members of the Sangha. For regular services, the Kanshō
is struck with a wooden mallet in the pattern of 7-5-3. It is struck seven times, then followed by a series of fast, soft beats which crescendo to slow, loud beats. The pattern then decrescendos from the slow, loud beats to fast, soft beats. The Kanshō is then struck five times followed by another crescendo and decrescendo pattern and finally struck three times. The numbers 7, 5, 3 are pivotal numbers in Japanese Buddhist culture. They are of such ancient origin that their exact meaning has been lost. The
Kanshō was not used in Jödoshinshū
temples until the 17th century, the first use of it being recorded in 1688.
The Kanshō is rung to begin the service because it reminds us of the way that Shakyamuni Buddha shared the Dharma or teachings with all, and how it called everyone to explore the truth. One of the truths that the Buddha teaches is the impermanence of all existence. This message that can be shared during the ringing of the Kansho is poignantly recorded in the opening line of the Heike Monogatari (Tale of Heike), one of the world literary classics:
“The voice of the Bell at the Gion Monastery resounds all conditioned existence is impermanent. The color of the flowers of the twin sala trees demonstrates that the prosperous will decline. The prideful cannot remain so for long. It is simply like the dream of a spring night.”
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