Men's Prayer Beads, Enju, 22 Beads, Black Striped Agate Finish

Men's Prayer Beads, Enju, 22 Beads, Black Striped Agate Finish

A set of men's prayer beads in enju (Japanese pagoda tree) wood, long valued for its strong association with warding off evil. Enju is a wood often used for tokobashira (alcove posts); according to legend, planting enju in the demon gate direction served to ward off evil, and it was also believed to protect against lightning. One legend tells of an emperor who, fearing lightning, consulted the priest Kobo Daishi Kukai and planted an enju tree away from the imperial residence, after which all lightning came to strike that tree instead. Beyond its protective associations, since "enju" echoes the Japanese word for longevity, it is also regarded as a symbol of long life.

Product Specifications

Item Number: 6400980000000
Parent Bead (Oyadama): Approx. 0.63 in (1.6 cm) – Black Striped Agate
Main Beads (Shudama): Approx. 0.55 in (1.4 cm) – Enju
Top Bead (Tendama): Approx. 0.39 in (1.0 cm) – Black Striped Agate