{"product_id":"white-agate-formal-bracelet-jodo-shinshu-june","title":"White Agate Formal Prayer Beads Bracelet – Jodo Shinshu Sect (June Birthstone)","description":"\u003ch2\u003eWhite Agate Birthstone Bracelet – Formal Jodo Shinshu Sect Prayer Beads\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis one-of-a-kind piece pairs the star-and-moon bodhi seed with June's birthstone, white agate, in the formal style of the Jodo Shinshu (Shin Buddhism) 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 White Agate, the June Birthstone\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eAgate takes its name from its resemblance to the appearance of a horse's brain, and this piece uses the pure white variety, white agate. Agate is regarded as a stone symbolizing love, said to strengthen the bonds of family affection. It is associated with marital happiness and good fortune in marriage, and is believed to support a warm family life while still allowing each partner to keep their own individuality. Here, the pure white agate is paired with a matching white tassel for a clean, unified look.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAbout the Jodo Shinshu Sect Formal Style\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis bracelet follows the formal prayer bead design of the Jodo Shinshu (Shin Buddhism) sect. One tassel side has 20 counting beads attached, while the other side has none and instead features a distinctive knot known as a renyo-musubi, said to resemble a butterfly with open wings — a defining feature of Jodo Shinshu prayer beads. There is no fixed rule for the total number of beads, and the design is not bound by strict conventions; the beads are treasured simply as a ritual implement used when pressing the palms together in prayer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eProduct Specifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eItem Number: 633v073000000\u003cbr\u003eParent Bead (Oyadama): Approx. 0.39 in (1.0 cm) – White Agate\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) – White Agate\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":48174467612909,"sku":"633v073000000","price":169.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0713\/3003\/7997\/files\/633v073000000_1.jpg?v=1790737469","url":"https:\/\/shop.kohgen.com\/products\/white-agate-formal-bracelet-jodo-shinshu-june","provider":"Kohgen","version":"1.0","type":"link"}