Men's Prayer Beads, Yakusugi (Yaku Cedar), 22 Beads, Malachite Finish, With Prayer Bead Pouch, Limited Edition

Men's Prayer Beads, Yakusugi (Yaku Cedar), 22 Beads, Malachite Finish, With Prayer Bead Pouch, Limited Edition

Yakusugi are cedars over 1,000 years old growing above 500 meters on Yakushima, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Kagoshima -- more than double the roughly 500-year lifespan of ordinary cedar (trees under 1,000 years are called kosugi). Because the forest is protected, only naturally fallen wood may be used; here it has been cut into beads and hand-finished one by one by Kyoto artisans. Compared to materials such as sandalwood or zelkova, Yakusugi stands out for its fine, beautifully etched growth rings, and like other wood beads it grows richer in color and more comfortable in the hand the more it is used. As a long-lived cedar, it is also considered an auspicious material symbolizing longevity, popular as a gift for grandparents or in celebration of a son's coming of age. This piece pairs Yakusugi with malachite, a beautiful green stone with distinctive banding long cherished as protection against misfortune and said to bring calm to the mind.

Product Specifications

Item Number: Q350322110029
Parent Bead (Oyadama): Approx. 0.79 in (2.0 cm) – Malachite
Main Beads (Shudama): Approx. 0.47 in (1.2 cm) – Yakusugi
Top Bead (Tendama): Approx. 0.31 in (0.8 cm) – Malachite
Note: One-of-a-kind piece, with prayer bead pouch. Currently sold out.