Aventurine Formal Prayer Beads Bracelet – Tendai Sect (May Birthstone)

Aventurine Birthstone Bracelet – Formal Tendai Sect Prayer Beads

This one-of-a-kind piece pairs the star-and-moon bodhi seed with May's birthstone, aventurine, in the formal style of the Tendai 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 Aventurine, the May Birthstone

Aventurine is also known as Indian jade. It is said to have a calming effect on the emotions and to help one open their heart to others; in ancient Tibet, it was revered as a 'stone of insight.' Aventurine is associated with the qualities of health, longevity, and virtue, and is believed to support a long, healthy, and happy life — making it a fitting gift as well.

About the Tendai Sect Formal Style

This bracelet follows the formal prayer bead design of the Tendai sect. Tendai-sect formal prayer beads use a full 108 main beads, with 20 flat counting beads and 10 round counting beads attached to help track recitations: one main bead is moved for each chant, and after a full circuit, one flat counting bead is shifted. Once all counting beads have been shifted, this represents roughly 30,000 recitations.

Product Specifications

Item Number: 633v005000000
Parent Bead (Oyadama): Approx. 0.39 in (1.0 cm) – Aventurine
Main Beads (Shudama): Approx. 0.28 in × 0.12 in thick (0.7 cm × 0.3 cm) – Star-and-Moon Bodhi Seed
Top Bead (Tendama): Approx. 0.20 in (0.5 cm) – Aventurine
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.