Citrine Formal Prayer Beads Bracelet – Soto Zen Sect (November Birthstone)

Citrine Birthstone Bracelet – Formal Soto Zen 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 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 Citrine, the November Birthstone

Citrine, also known in Japan as 'yellow crystal,' takes its name from its resemblance to the color of the citron fruit. Because its color is similar to topaz, it is also sometimes called citrine topaz. Its golden glow, reminiscent of the sun, has a way of bringing a sense of calm just by looking at it. Citrine has long been considered a 'stone of good fortune,' believed to bring prosperity in business and wealth to its wearer. It also makes a lovely gift for anyone born in November.

About the Soto Zen Sect Formal Style

This bracelet follows the formal prayer bead design of the Soto Zen sect. As with the Rinzai Zen sect, formal Soto Zen prayer beads are most often carried by temple priests. The shape closely resembles Rinzai Zen prayer beads, but a distinguishing feature of the Soto Zen sect is a metal ring threaded onto the beads. The reason for this ring is not entirely certain, though one account holds that it represents Bodhidharma.

Product Specifications

Item Number: 633v065000000
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.