Cut Crystal Formal Prayer Beads Bracelet – Soto Zen Sect (April Birthstone)

Cut Crystal Birthstone Bracelet – Formal Soto Zen Sect Prayer Beads

This one-of-a-kind piece pairs the star-and-moon bodhi seed with April's birthstone, faceted cut crystal quartz, in the formal style of the Soto Zen 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 Cut Crystal, the April Birthstone

Crystal quartz remains one of the most consistently popular gemstones for bracelets. It is one of the oldest natural stones cherished by people, historically used in charms and divination, and it is still believed today to have a soothing, healing quality — which is part of why it remains a favorite stone in fortune-telling. The faceted 'kiriko' cut used here catches the light beautifully from every angle, giving endless sparkle. This is a piece any crystal lover will enjoy.

About the Soto Zen Sect Formal Style

This bracelet follows the formal prayer bead design of the Soto Zen sect. Like Rinzai Zen prayer beads, the formal Soto Zen strand is often carried by temple priests. Its shape closely resembles Rinzai Zen beads, but a distinguishing feature of Soto Zen prayer beads is a metal ring threaded onto the strand. The reason for the ring is not fully known, though one theory holds that it represents Bodhidharma (Daruma).

Product Specifications

Item Number: 633v057000000
Parent Bead (Oyadama): Approx. 0.39 in (1.0 cm) – Cut Crystal
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) – Cut Crystal
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.