Citrine Formal Prayer Beads Bracelet – Rinzai Sect (November Birthstone)

Citrine Birthstone Bracelet – Formal Rinzai Sect Prayer Beads

This one-of-a-kind piece pairs the star-and-moon bodhi seed with November's birthstone, citrine, in the formal style of the Rinzai 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 Citrine, the November Birthstone

Citrine is also known as citrine quartz, its name derived from the citron fruit, whose color it resembles; because it also resembles the color of topaz, it is sometimes called citrine topaz. Its warm, golden glow evokes the sun and is said to bring a calm, positive feeling. It has long been considered a 'stone of fortune,' believed to bring business success and wealth.

About the Rinzai Sect Formal Style

This bracelet follows the formal prayer bead design of the Rinzai Zen sect. Rinzai-sect formal prayer beads are based on 108 main beads. Even among temple parishioners, few own a full formal set, and prayer beads are not typically held during zazen meditation. The design resembles Soto Zen prayer beads but without a loop, and is worn by doubling the strand over four fingers of the left hand with the tassel hanging down while pressing the palms together in prayer.

Product Specifications

Item Number: 633v038000000
Parent Bead (Oyadama): Approx. 0.39 in (1.0 cm) – Citrine
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) – Citrine
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.