Garnet Formal Prayer Beads Bracelet – Soto Zen Sect (January Birthstone)

Garnet Birthstone Bracelet – Formal Soto Zen Sect Prayer Beads

This one-of-a-kind piece pairs the star-and-moon bodhi seed with January's birthstone, garnet, 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 Garnet, the January Birthstone

With its deep, wine-like color, garnet takes its Japanese name from its resemblance to pomegranate seeds, and its English name is said to come from the Latin for 'protection against illness.' As January's birthstone, garnet is said to lead its wearer to victory and success, carrying the meaning that steady, unglamorous effort will ultimately be rewarded. Records tell of medieval women gifting garnet pendants to knights, with legend holding that such a pendant once deflected an arrow — garnet has long been worn as a charm for victory, and is still carried today as a protective talisman. Garnet is also roughly 20% heavier than crystal, reflecting its density and tightly packed crystal structure. In ancient Egypt and Europe it was believed to aid poor health and was even used as a styptic remedy to stop bleeding, in addition to being worn as an ornament.

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: 633v054000000
Parent Bead (Oyadama): Approx. 0.39 in (1.0 cm) – Garnet
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) – Garnet
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.