The wooden fish (Taoist ritual instruments) 木鱼

The wooden fish, one of the Taoist ritual instruments, is also known as "wooden drum" and commonly called "fish seed". It is used for tapping while chanting scriptures. Its round shape resembles a fish, hence the name "wooden fish"; there is another saying that the shape of the wooden fish is similar to a human head.

When chanting scriptures, the chime stone and the wooden fish are used together: the sound of the chime stone is like "awakening", and the sound of the wooden fish when struck is like "enlightenment". The Supreme Secret Essentials states: "The wooden fish and the clear chime stone rouse the mortal world from its slumber."