{"product_id":"lapis-lazuli-formal-bracelet-soto-zen-september","title":"Lapis Lazuli Formal Prayer Beads Bracelet – Soto Zen Sect (September Birthstone)","description":"\u003ch2\u003eLapis Lazuli Birthstone Bracelet – Formal Soto Zen Sect Prayer Beads\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis one-of-a-kind piece pairs the star-and-moon bodhi seed with September's birthstone, lapis lazuli, in the formal style of the Soto Zen sect — part of Kohgen Ojuzukan's original Sect \u0026amp; Birthstone series.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAbout the Materials\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe 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.)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAbout Lapis Lazuli, the September Birthstone\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eLapis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAbout the Soto Zen Sect Formal Style\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eProduct Specifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eItem Number: 633v063000000\u003cbr\u003eParent Bead (Oyadama): Approx. 0.39 in (1.0 cm) – Lapis Lazuli\u003cbr\u003eMain Beads (Shudama): Approx. 0.28 in × 0.12 in thick (0.7 cm × 0.3 cm) – Star-and-Moon Bodhi Seed\u003cbr\u003eAccent Beads (Yotenma, ×4): Approx. 0.16 in (0.4 cm) – Lapis Lazuli\u003cbr\u003eInner Diameter: Approx. 6.69 in (17.0 cm)\u003cbr\u003eNote: 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kohgen","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48174467842285,"sku":"633v063000000","price":190.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0713\/3003\/7997\/files\/633v063000000_1.jpg?v=1790737469","url":"https:\/\/shop.kohgen.com\/products\/lapis-lazuli-formal-bracelet-soto-zen-september","provider":"Kohgen","version":"1.0","type":"link"}