Agate Formal Prayer Beads Bracelet – Shingon Sect (July Birthstone)

Agate Birthstone Bracelet – Formal Shingon Sect Prayer Beads

This one-of-a-kind piece pairs the star-and-moon bodhi seed with July's birthstone, agate, in the formal style of the Shingon 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 Agate, the July Birthstone

Agate is a general term for minerals formed from tightly packed clusters of tiny quartz crystals. Its name is said to come from the resemblance of its shape to a horse's brain. Agate is most often found in nodules within volcanic rock, and its coloring and banded patterns arise from trace minerals such as iron present during its formation. Red is traditionally considered a color that wards off evil, and red agate in particular has long been used in prayer beads, making it an excellent stone to carry for protection. Agate is also said to give courage to the one who wears it and to help build smooth, harmonious relationships with others, making it a welcome gift for anyone entering the working world. It is a fitting gift for those born in July as well.

About the Shingon Sect Formal Style

This bracelet follows the formal prayer bead design of the Shingon sect. It is said that Shingon may have been the very first sect to bring prayer beads to Japan, and for this reason its beads closely resemble the all-sect formal design. The style typically features two tassels each on the front and back, strung on a red cord. The prayer beads carried on pilgrimages, such as the Shikoku henro, are simply a slightly longer version of these Shingon sect beads.

Product Specifications

Item Number: 633v087000000
Parent Bead (Oyadama): Approx. 0.39 in (1.0 cm) – Agate
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) – Agate
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.