Boxwood Skull-Carved Bracelet

Skull Carving: A Traditional Talisman Against Evil

The skull motif used in Buddhist prayer beads is thought to stem from an old custom of enshrining ancestors' skulls or using them in place of gravestones in eras before household Buddhist altars existed. Skulls have also long been used as a talisman against evil and misfortune, and can be found carved into many different materials.

This bracelet is carved from boxwood, a small evergreen tree typically 1 to 4 meters tall known for its dense, fine grain, high oil content, and durability, making it ideal for detailed carving work such as fine combs. Boxwood is also the traditional material for shogi (Japanese chess) pieces — the distinctive sharp "click" sound made when a piece is placed on the board is said to be characteristic of boxwood.

Product Specifications

Item Number: 643083-100000
Parent Bead (Oyadama): Approx. 0.39 in (1.0 cm) – Boxwood
Main Beads (Shudama): Approx. 0.28 in (0.7 cm) – Boxwood, skull-carved
Top Bead (Tendama): Approx. 0.16 in (0.4 cm) – Boxwood
Inner Diameter: Approx. 6.89 in (17.5 cm)