Priest Nisshin 

Kanō Masanobu painted "Priest Nisshin" in the 15th century, a hanging scroll in ink and color on paper. Here, the priest Nisshin is captured holding a 'shakujo', or ringed staff, a Buddhist symbol of authority and protection. This staff is not merely an accessory; it is a profound emblem, reminiscent of the shepherd's crook in ancient pastoral traditions, adapted to guide not flocks of sheep but wandering souls. The rings, often of metal, could be shaken to alert small creatures of the priest's approach, preventing accidental trampling, a manifestation of Buddhist compassion for all beings. This compassion mirrors the 'imago', the image of care and guidance, we see echoed through history, from Hermes’ caduceus to a medieval bishop’s crosier. It's a visual echo, a cultural memory, suggesting our shared, primal need for guidance and protection. The shakujo, therefore, is not just a tool but a deep, resonant symbol, continually reshaped by the collective psyche.