Ahu (Chinese:笏;pinyin:hù) is a flatscepter originating fromChina, where they were originally used as narrow tablets for recording notes and orders. They were historically used by officials throughout East Asia, includingJapan,Korea,Ryukyu, andVietnam. They are known asshaku inJapan, and are worn as part of thesokutai ceremonial outfit. They continue to be used inDaoist andShinto ritual contexts in some parts of East Asia.

The use of thehu originated in ancientChina, where theClassic of Rites required ahu to have a length of twochi sixcun, and its mid part a width of threecun (笏長二尺六寸，中宽三寸). Originally, thehu was held by officials in court to record significant orders and instructions by the emperors.^[1] From theJin dynasty onwards, following the increased proliferation ofpaper, thehu became a ceremonial instrument. In China, it was customary to hold thehu with the broad end down and the narrow end up.

Thehu was originally used at court for the taking of notes and was usually made ofbamboo. Officials could record speaking notes on the tablet ahead of the audience, and record the emperor's instructions during the audience. Likewise, the emperor could use one for notes during ceremonies.^{[citation needed]}

Thehu eventually became a ritual implement; it also became customary for officials to shield their mouths with theirhu when speaking to the emperor.^{[citation needed]}

Ahu can be made of different material according to the holder's rank: sovereigns usedjade (similar to, but not the same as, the ceremonial jadesceptre,gui (圭))(zh), nobles used ivory, and court officials used bamboo.

Ahu is often seen in portraits of Chinesemandarins, but is now mostly used by Daoist priests (daoshi). TheBuddhist deityKing Yama, judge of the underworld, is often depicted bearing ahu.

During theTang dynasty, court etiquette required officials to wear thehu in their belts when riding horses.^[2] The chancellor was provided with ahu rack, which was carried into the palace. After an audience, thehu could be left on the rack. Lesser officials hadhu bags, which were held by their attendants.^[3] During the early Tang dynasty, Mandarins of the fifth rank or above used ivoryhu, while those below used wooden ones. The rules were further elaborated later to require that mandarins of the third rank or above usedhu which were curved at the front and straight at the back, while those of the fifth rank or above usedhu which were curved at the front and angled at the back. Thehu used by lower rank mandarins were made of bamboo and were angled at the top and square at the bottom. In theMing dynasty, Mandarins of the fourth rank or above used ivoryhu, while those of the fifth rank or below used wooden ones.^[4]

Thehu fell out of use in the Imperial Court system during theQing dynasty. The greater ceremonial deference demanded by Qing emperors meant that officials had to greet the emperor bykowtowing, making it impractical to carry thehu to an audience.

In contemporary times, thehu is mostly used by as part of the traditional outfit ofdaoshi during formal and ceremonial functions such as the performing of rites.

The standard reading in Japanese for the character used to writeshaku iskotsu, but as this is also one of the readings for the characterhone (骨, "bone"), it is avoided and considered bad luck.^[5] The character's unusual pronunciation seems to derive from the fact the baton is approximately oneshaku (an old unit of measurement equivalent to 30.3 cm (11.9 in)) in length.^[5]

Ashaku orteita (手板) is a baton orscepter about 35 cm (14 in) long, held vertically in the right hand, and was traditionally part of a nobleman's formal attire (thesokutai.^[6] Today, theshaku is mostly used byShinto priests during official and ceremonial functions, not only when wearing thesokutai but when wearing other types of formal clothing such as thejōe, thekaraginu (狩衣) and theikan (衣冠).^[5][6] The emperor'sshaku is roughly square at both ends, whereas aretainer's is rounded at the top and square at the bottom.^[7] Both become progressively narrow towards the bottom.^[7]Oak is considered the best material for theshaku, followed in order by holly, cherry,sakaki, and Japanese cedar.^[7]

Theshaku originally had a strip of paper attached to the back containing instructions andmemoranda for the ceremony or event about to take place, but it later evolved into a purely ceremonial implement meant to add solemnity to rituals.^[5] According to theTaihō Code, a set of administrative laws implemented in the year 701, nobles of the fifth rank and above had to use an ivoryshaku, while those below that rank were to use oak, Japanese yew, holly, cherry, sakaki, Japanese cedar, or other woods.^[5][6] Ivory, however, was too hard to obtain, and the law was changed.^[7] TheEngishiki, a Japanese book of laws and regulations written in 927, permits to all the use ofshaku of unfinished wood, except when wearing special ceremonial clothes calledreifuku (礼服).^[5][6] The Japaneseshaku is usually made of woods likeJapanese yew,holly,cherry,sakaki, orJapanese cedar.^[5] Theshaku is often seen in portraits of the Japaneseshōgun, emperors, nobleman, and Shinto priests (kannushi).

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