（1）Dharma Instruments Used in Making Offerings to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas
　　The most commonly used Dharma instruments in making offerings to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are incense burner, flower vase, and candlestick. However, depending on their placements and numbers, there can be different arrangements, known as the three essential articles of offering, the four essential articles of offering, and the five complete articles of offering.
　　If we place one incense burner, one flower vase, and one candlestick in front of the Buddha image, we are using the arrangement of the “three essential instruments of offering.” Although this particular placement has its origin in China, the articles used are of Indian tradition.
　　The arrangement of the “four essential instruments of offering” consists of two flower vases, one incense burner, and one candlestick placed in front of the Buddha image. This placement originated from the Japanese Heian Period (late 8th century to late 12th century).
　　The arrangement of the “five complete instruments of offering” consists of two flower vases, two candlesticks, and an incense burner placed in front of the Buddha image and has its origin in the Japanese Kamakura Period (late 12th century to 14th century).

The Five Complete Instruments of Offering／Model Buddhist Sanctuary, Fo Guang Yuan Art Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan

（2）Dharma Instruments Used in Buddhist Chanting and Recitation
　　Dharma instruments used in Buddhist chanting and recitation include the big bell-bowl, the wooden fish, the wooden fish board, the bronze cloud plate, the bell, and the drum. They are usually struck during a temple's daily activities, assemblies, chanting sessions, and Dharma services.
◎The Big Bell-bowl
　　The bowl-shape instrument in the picture below is called the big bell-bowl. It is struck during Dharma services, morning and evening chanting by the leading monastic using a wooden stick to guide the assembly in changes in tempo or movements of the chanting in progress. It is placed on the right-hand side of the offering table.
◎The Wooden Fish
　　The wooden fish is the Dharma instrument on the left-hand side of the offering table. In chanting a sutra, the assembly will follow the rhythmic beat of the wooden fish to create a sound of resonance and order.
　　Why is it shaped like a fish? It is because the eyes of a fish never close; they are always open, swimming or resting, day or night. Precisely, it is this characteristic of the fish that is used to remind the monastics to always be diligent and heedful in their cultivation.
◎The Wooden Fish Board
　　This high-hanging big fish, or the wooden fish board, is a very important instrument of the temple because it is used to inform the masses of mealtime. When it is struck, everybody needs to get in line and enter the dining hall in an orderly manner to take his/her seat. It is also called the meal board since it is usually hung in the hallway of a dining hall to inform everyone that it is time to eat.
◎The Bronze Cloud Plate
　　The bronze cloud plate, opposite of the wooden fish board, is shaped like a cloud. It is struck by a designated server after everyone has taken his/her seat to inform the assembly that they can start eating their meals after striking the bronze cloud plate is done.
◎The Big Bell
　　The big bell is used in a temple as an instrument of time and a signal for everyone to assemble. When it is struck early in the morning, waves of resonant sound will issue forth, across the horizon, not only to awaken those who are deluded by dreams of illusion, but also to remind them to be heedful of the passage of time, to be diligent in their cultivation, and to make good use of every day.
◎The Drum
　　The drum, one of the most used Dharma instruments of the temple, serves to awaken the masses. As the night falls, the deep sound of the drum signifies the end of a workday, and at the same time, tells us that rest is necessary for a long journey ahead. We should be diligent in our progress because the end of one day is just the beginning of another.
In a temple, the drum is placed opposite of the big bell, in front of the main shrine, thus acquiring the name “right drum and left bell.” They are also known as the “morning bell and evening drum” because in a temple, the bell is struck before the drum in the morning and vice versa in the evening.

The karmadana (the leading monastic) strikes the big bell-bowl to lead the assembly in their chanting and recitation.／Students of Fo Guang Shan Monastic College	By striking the wooden fish, the sounds of chanting are harmonious in their unity.／Students of Fo Guang Shan Monastic College	On hearing the sound of the wooden fish board, one can enter the dining hall and get ready for meal.／The wooden fish board at the dining hall of the Cloud Dwelling Building, Fo Guang Shan Monastery, Kaohsiung, Taiwan	After entering the dining hall, the sound of the bronze cloud plate tells the assembly that it is almost time to eat.／The bronze cloud plate at the dining hall of the Cloud Dwelling Building, Fo Guang Shan Monastery, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

The sounds of the big bell can transcend all obstacles to drift freely across the sky to awaken all sentient beings.／Nan Tien Temple, Australia	The sounds of the drum are like thunder and lightning, pounding rain and driving wind, to symbolize peace and prosperity, favorable weather and good crops.／Nan Tien Temple, Australia