CHINESE TEMPLE BLOCK

This very large Chinese Temple Block or Wooden Fish can be found at the Sam Poh Caves in Ipoh.  The ones that  I have seen are normally palm sized but this one is unusually big.

The Chinese temple block is a wooden percussion instrument. It is used by monks and laity in the Mahayana Buddhist tradition. It is often used during rituals usually involving the recitation of sutras, mantras, or other Buddhist texts. The wooden fish is mainly used by Buddhist disciples in China, Japan, Korea, and other East Asian countries where the practice of Mahayana, such as the ceremonious reciting of sutras, is prevalent. In most Zen/Ch'an Buddhist traditions, the wooden fish serves to keep the rhythm during sutra chanting. In Pure Land Buddhism, it is used when chanting the name of Amitabha.
The Taoist clergy has also adapted the wooden fish into their rituals.

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