Lapis Lazuli Formal Prayer Beads Bracelet – Rinzai Zen Sect (September Birthstone)

Lapis Lazuli Birthstone Bracelet – Formal Rinzai Zen Sect Prayer Beads

This one-of-a-kind piece pairs the star-and-moon bodhi seed with September's birthstone, lapis lazuli, 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 Lapis Lazuli, the September Birthstone

Lapis lazuli is, alongside crystal, one of the oldest and most treasured natural stones, long regarded as a powerful power stone. Across many cultures it has been considered a sacred stone that wards off evil, and it was prized by the civilizations of Sumer and Mesopotamia as well as the pharaohs of ancient Egypt. In Buddhism it is counted among the Seven Treasures, and in Japan it has long been regarded, alongside crystal, as a stone of happiness. Its deep indigo blue has also been cherished throughout history as a gemstone and as the source of ultramarine pigment.

About the Rinzai Zen Sect Formal Style

This bracelet follows the formal prayer bead design of the Rinzai Zen sect, which is traditionally strung with 108 beads. Few lay followers own a formal set, and prayer beads are not held during zazen meditation. The shape closely resembles Soto Zen prayer beads, but without the metal ring found on that sect's beads. They are worn doubled around the four fingers of the left hand, with the tassels hanging down, while pressing the palms together in prayer.

Product Specifications

Item Number: 633v036000000
Parent Bead (Oyadama): Approx. 0.39 in (1.0 cm) – Lapis Lazuli
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) – Lapis Lazuli
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.