釋氏要覽 2.86

2.86

In Sanskrit it is called anaridu (anuruddha/anuratha?); in the language of Qin it is called 'ruyi' (as you wish). The Zhigui says: It was an ancient scratcher staff. Made of bone, horn, bamboo, or wood, carved into human fingers and nails, with a handle about three feet long. If there was an itch on the back where the hand could not reach, it was used to scratch it, just as one wished; hence it was called 'ruyi'. I once asked the Tripiṭaka translator Master Qingzhao, who was versed in Sanskrit, and Master Yunsheng, who was versed in philology and wisdom; both said: The form of the ruyi is an emblem of the mind. Therefore bodhisattvas all hold it, shaped like a cloud leaf, and also resembling the seal character for 'mind' (xīn) in this land. If it were restricted to a scratcher staff, why would Mañjuśrī also hold it? Could he want to scratch an itch? They also said: Today lecturing monks still hold it, mostly writing private notes of sections and prayers on the handle to prepare against forgetfulness; when needed, they hold it in hand and look at it, just as they wish; hence it is called 'ruyi'. It is like the hand tablet of secular officials prepared against forgetfulness, called a hù. As for Emperor Gaozu of Qi bestowing a bamboo-root ruyi on the hermit Ming Sengshao, Emperor Wu of Liang bestowing a lignum aloes ruyi on Crown Prince Zhaoming, and Shi Jilun and Wang Dun both holding iron ruyi—these must have been scratcher staffs. Concluding from this, there are two kinds of ruyi, which share the same name but differ in use.