The fly-whisk is one of the traditional symbols of Buddhist monastic hierarchy in China and Japan, along with the khakkhara, jewel scepter, and begging bowl. The fly-whisk in Buddhism represents the symbolic "sweeping" of ignorance and mental afflictions. The Daoist fly-whisk is made of the root and twine of the smilax for the handle, and the hairs are made of palm fiber.
The fly-whisk is a traditional emblem within Buddhist monastic structures in China and Japan, alongside the khakkhara, jewel scepter, and begging bowl. It symbolizes the symbolic "sweeping" away of ignorance and mental disturbances in Buddhism. The Daoist fly-whisk is constructed using the root and twine from the smilax plant for its handle, while the fibers are made from palm material.