Imagery
Andong, 2006
This is the second story of the pavilion seen in the previous photo. In the foreground is the “wooden fish” (mogeo) and in the background is the “dharma drum” (beopgo). The sounding of the dharma drum is thought to spread the teachings of Buddha to all humanity. The wooden fish has a hollow belly that is open at the bottom, and the insides of the belly are struck with a wooden stick. Its function is to drive away sleepiness and focus the scattered mind—the open eyes of the fish (fish have no eyelids) are symbolic of this wakefulness and awareness. The hollow wooden gongs struck by monks are said to be simplified versions of the fish.