Amethyst Formal Prayer Beads Bracelet – Shingon Sect (February Birthstone)

Amethyst Birthstone Bracelet – Formal Shingon Sect Prayer Beads

This one-of-a-kind piece pairs the star-and-moon bodhi seed with February's birthstone, amethyst, in the formal style of the Shingon sect — part of Kohgen Ojuzukan's original Sect & Birthstone series.

About the Materials

The main beads are made from star-and-moon bodhi seeds (hoshizuki bodaiju) sourced from Hainan Island, China — considered the finest grade available. The countless small black flecks on each seed are said to resemble stars in a night sky, while the single larger mark left by the stem is likened to the moon, together evoking the universe, which has long been regarded in Buddhism as the realm of the Buddha. The bodhi tree is also cherished as the very tree beneath which Shakyamuni Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment. (Many other types of bodhi seed are also used in prayer beads, including kongo, tengen, kokuryu, hogan, maya, kogan, gogan, and antique star-and-moon bodhi.)

About Amethyst, the February Birthstone

Amethyst is well known as a stone said to calm the spirit and restore a sense of composure, and its beauty has captivated countless admirers over the years. As February's birthstone, amethyst has long been said to help its wearer stay clear-headed and level-tempered, making it especially popular among professionals such as lawyers and doctors. Its calm, understated color suits wearers of any age, and purple has the quality of blending quietly into formal wear without standing out, lending a composed, refined impression.

About the Shingon Sect Formal Style

This bracelet follows the formal prayer bead design of the Shingon sect. It is said that Shingon may have been the very first sect to bring prayer beads to Japan, and for this reason its beads closely resemble the all-sect formal design. The style typically features two tassels each on the front and back, strung on a red cord. The prayer beads carried on pilgrimages, such as the Shikoku henro, are simply a slightly longer version of these Shingon sect beads.

Product Specifications

Item Number: 633v082000000
Parent Bead (Oyadama): Approx. 0.39 in (1.0 cm) – Amethyst
Main Beads (Shudama): Approx. 0.28 in × 0.12 in thick (0.7 cm × 0.3 cm) – Star-and-Moon Bodhi Seed
Accent Beads (Yotenma, ×4): Approx. 0.16 in (0.4 cm) – Amethyst
Inner Diameter: Approx. 6.69 in (17.0 cm)
Note: As each bracelet is handcrafted from natural gemstone and bodhi seed, the exact grain and shade may vary slightly from the images shown. This is a one-of-a-kind piece.