Green Onyx Formal Prayer Beads Bracelet – Soto Zen Sect (October Birthstone)

Green Onyx Birthstone Bracelet – Formal Soto Zen Sect Prayer Beads

This one-of-a-kind piece pairs the star-and-moon bodhi seed with October's birthstone, green onyx, 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 Green Onyx, the October Birthstone

Onyx has long been regarded as a protective stone, used since ancient times as a talisman to ward off evil. It is said to dispel negative thoughts, bring clarity of judgment, and grant patience and endurance — a good match for anyone working toward a goal. Its soft, fresh green tone carries both a calm and a vibrant quality suited to any age, and the tassel on this piece is finished in a matching willow-green tone.

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: 633v064000000
Parent Bead (Oyadama): Approx. 0.39 in (1.0 cm) – Green Onyx
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) – Green Onyx
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.