Cut Crystal Formal Prayer Beads Bracelet – Jodo Shinshu Sect (April Birthstone)

Cut Crystal Birthstone Bracelet – Formal Jodo Shinshu Sect Prayer Beads

This one-of-a-kind piece pairs the star-and-moon bodhi seed with April's birthstone, crystal, in the formal style of the Jodo Shinshu 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 Cut Crystal, the April Birthstone

When it comes to bracelets, crystal remains an enduringly popular choice. It is one of the oldest natural stones cherished by people, long used in charms and rituals, and is still valued today for its calming, healing qualities and its frequent use in fortune-telling. Faceted into this bracelet's beads, the crystal catches the light from every angle, sparkling in a way that never grows tiring to look at — a genuine treat for anyone who loves crystal.

About the Jodo Shinshu Sect Formal Style

This bracelet follows the formal prayer bead design of the Jodo Shinshu sect. One tassel has 20 counting beads attached, while the other has none, instead finished with a distinctive knot known as a renyo musubi. This knot, which resembles a butterfly with open wings, is the defining feature of Jodo Shinshu prayer beads. There is no fixed rule for the number of beads used, nor strict attention to form — what matters most is that these beads are treated as a cherished ritual implement used when pressing the palms together in prayer.

Product Specifications

Item Number: 633v070000000
Parent Bead (Oyadama): Approx. 0.39 in (1.0 cm) – Cut Crystal
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) – Cut Crystal
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.