THIS IS A FREE ARTICLE FROM SACRED HOOP MAGAZINE. Sacred Hoop is an independent magazine about Shamanism and Animistic Spirituality, based in West Wales, published four times a year since 1993. You may share this in any non-commercial way but reference to www.SacredHoop.org must be made if it is reprinted anywhere. To get a very special low-cost subscription to Sacred Hoop please visit : www.SacredHoop.org/offer.html ‘Within your own mind, you already have what you need to succeed, the ability to put others ahead of yourself. This is called virtue, the wish-fulfilling jewel’ Buddha Shakyamuni

BLAZE WITH MAJESTIC BRILLIANCE An introduction to Himalayan dZi beads James Wainwright

he people of and the There is one sacred bead those who wear them. As the Ancient Himalayan regions have long however, that stands out from all Tibetan Buddhist master, Sakyong Tadorned their bodies, temples, others. This is known as the dZi Mipham Rinpoche says: “A person banded agate, known as statues and ritual items with bead or dZi stone. with ziji has dignity, the radiant power Bhaisajyaguru dZi heirloom and prized beads. The most widely adopted of a mind that has relaxed into its Marco Polo, the famous spelling in the world today is dZi, own inherent strength”. medieval Italian explorer and however, it is also commonly trader, mentions how important spelled gzi or zi. The word dZi I first encountered dZi beads Mediterranean coral was to the translates as bright, shine or whilst I was an ordained Buddhist Tibetans, as far back as the luminous and should be pronounced monk, and became immediately Below: two-eyed dZi with red coral C13th. Other beads are also held zee or in some regions of Tibet züh. fascinated by them. The magical beads, and two in high esteem as and The Tibetan word for confidence claims of healing and protection longevity dZi continue to be used today for their is ziji, which is made up of zi meaning plus their association with the medicinal properties. These include shine and ji meaning splendour, gods and mythical creatures amongst others; amber, radiance or dignity. I personally feel captured my imagination, and turquoise, pearls, that when we connect this Tibetan since that time I have been a carnelian and lapis word to dZi beads, it gives us a close custodian of an ever increasing lazuli. meaning to what dZi represent to collection of Himalayan beads. THIS IS A FREE ARTICLE FROM SACRED HOOP MAGAZINE. Sacred Hoop is an independent magazine about Shamanism and Animistic Spirituality, based in West Wales, published four times a year since 1993. You may share this in any non-commercial way but reference to www.SacredHoop.org must be made if it is reprinted anywhere. To get a very special low-cost subscription to Sacred Hoop please visit : www.SacredHoop.org/offer.html Tibetans have a deep reverence GIFTS OF THE GODS Tibetans have a deep reverence and trust that dZi can avert illness Tibetans believe that a genuine dZi and other unfavourable conditions. bead is not created by human and trust that dZi can avert illness A bead might be used as a hands, but instead is of divine or defence against poison for even miraculous origin. Even the or defend against poison. Some example. They are sometimes hole through the bead is believed believed to absorb illness and as a to be a natural occurrence and not say dZi attract unseen beings who result become a much paler colour. drilled by people. act as personal protectors to the The weaker the colour the less There are many stories that tell potent the bead is believed to be. us how dZi appear in the wearer. Some claim that they shield Beads with a dark brown to black Himalayan regions. In the ‘Epic of base colour with a well contrasted King Gesar’, a poem believed to be against knife and bullet attacks design, are considered to be the 1000 years old, it mentions that most powerful. many dZi were brought to Tibet by Some say dZi attract unseen King Gesar of Ling, after his army beings who act as personal defeated the King of Tajik in the protectors to the wearer. I have also Persian Empire. heard claims that they shield against Other stories tell us that dZi knife and bullet attacks (don’t try were concealed as terma by this at home). When a bead breaks Padmasambhava, the Indian it is believed to have absorbed master, revered by Tibetans as the significant misfortune for the owner, second Buddha. A terma is a and in some cases may even have sacred text or special object that driven away an untimely death. has been hidden for future I personally wear a stone bead generations, they are then revealed Small ancient dZi and decorated agates , comprised of beads at the appropriate time by highly collected over many years. On some accomplished Vajrayana [tantric] occasions I simply wear a single dZi adepts known as Tertöns. These bead. Even when I go to sleep I am great Tibetan masters are also unlikely to remove it. I also keep a considered to be Padmasambhava’s mala (string of Buddhist prayer disciples from previous lifetimes. beads) always at hand, so I fully The C19th Tibetan master Terchen understand how deeply connected Barway Dorje tells us that the people of the Himalayas feel Padmasambhava himself wore a six towards their beads, and the eyed dZi bead1. inseparable role they play in their New Six Eyed dZi (front centre) daily lives and dharma practice. There is also the belief that dZi flanked by ancient beads. The word ‘bead’ actually derives beads are the sacred droppings of from the old English word, gebed the Garuda bird - a huge mythical meaning prayer. It is in this spirit, bird or bird-like creature that that for me, the use and wearing of appears in both Hindu and beads has always been a reminder Buddhist traditions with a wing- of turning the mind inwards. span said sometimes to be miles

Ancient Phum dZi bead with gold end caps

Above: A painted offering of dZi beads displayed on a temple wall in Boudhanath, Left: Tibetan women display their families’ wealth, wearing and hair ornaments comprised of amber, coral, turquoise, ivory and dZi SH ISSUE 67 2010 33 THIS IS A FREE ARTICLE FROM SACRED HOOP MAGAZINE. Sacred Hoop is an independent magazine about Shamanism and Animistic Spirituality, based in West Wales, published four times a year since 1993. You may share this in any non-commercial way but reference to www.SacredHoop.org must be made if it is reprinted anywhere. To get a very special low-cost subscription to Sacred Hoop please visit : www.SacredHoop.org/offer.html

creature that crawls on the ground. This creature turns into a dZi stone if touched by human hands. Some dZi beads are believed to be found in nests in the ground or recently ploughed fields. In fact the first genuine dZi bead that I acquired, was supposedly found in a farmers field in Nepal. Female Yaks (Tibetan: dri) are also said to give birth to dZi beads, which is similar to a story from the Chin people of Burma, who say that their goats give birth to the Chin’s sacred Pumtek beads. Pumtek are decorated fossilised or opalised wood beads that are not too dissimilar from dZi in appearance and manufacture.

THE WISH-FULFILLING GEM One widely adopted belief is that dZi are found near hot springs, which I personally believe associates them with the Naga2 (Tibetan: Lu). Nag is a Sanskrit word that means snake, and these snake-like beings (often depicted as half human and half snake) are generally thought to inhabit water or a subterranean land known as Patala. Tibetans believe that certain Nagas have vowed to protect the Buddha’s teachings and have also been entrusted with important Dharma treasures. Once again, like terma, these can only be released when the right causes and conditions are present. One of the qualities of a Naga is to be able to bestow wealth and abundance, such as good harvests and rainfall, so recognising special Naga days is an important aspect of Tibetan Buddhism. The King of the Nagas is said to possess a ‘wish-fulfilling jewel’ that he wears in his crown or Above: stunningly topknot. Precious gems that can beautiful gilded grant all of one’s wishes are a statue of the recurring theme in the world of Buddha adorned Tibetan Buddhism. Indeed the with coral, patron of Tibet, turquoise and dZi Chenrezig, holds a wish-fulfilling stones. C7th, Jokhang temple, jewel in his hands. So to a Lhasa, Tibet Tibetan, perhaps a dZi bead makes a very real connection to Right: ancient across - or the Khyung bird, a pre- The Garuda is regarded as a the legendary wish-fulfilling jewels chong dZi strung Buddhist shamanic mountain spirit, keeper or protector of hidden that are so often mentioned in with red coral said to have been subjugated by treasures. The droppings of the beads their spiritual teachings? Padmasambhava and converted Garuda (in the form of dZi) fall to the Tibetan medicinal pills called Below: recently into a protector of Buddhism in ground as he flies through the sky. Rinchen Ratna Samphel or made three-eye Tibet. In some cases the Garuda is Other stories tell us that these ‘Precious Wish-fulfilling Jewel’ dZi bead also seen as a manifestation of beads are dropped or discarded by also include ground up fragments Padmasambhava.The Garuda and the gods, thus enabling fortunate of dZi as part of their ingredients. Khyung have become somewhat human beings to find them. Tibetans are particularly careful fused into one mythological being One of the most widely held about upsetting Nagas and the over the centuries. beliefs is that they are a worm-like SH 34 ISSUE 67 2010 THIS IS A FREE ARTICLE FROM SACRED HOOP MAGAZINE. Sacred Hoop is an independent magazine about Shamanism and Animistic Spirituality, based in West Wales, published four times a year since 1993. You may share this in any non-commercial way but reference to www.SacredHoop.org must be made if it is reprinted anywhere. To get a very special low-cost subscription to Sacred Hoop please visit : www.SacredHoop.org/offer.html

environment they inhabit. If you were probably kept secret, and today to get on the wrong side of a Naga they are still not fully understood. they might inflict illness or create The Roman historian Pliny the imbalance in the environment. Elder wrote about the process of Nagas are often associated with agates being turned darker by causing diseases of the skin and treatments that involved soaking thus special practices or medicine and heating the bead in a honey associated with the Garuda are solution. Due to this process and believed to be a powerful antidote. the acidic nature of honey, it was Images of the Garuda often show able to penetrate deep into the him holding a snake in his mouth stone. and hands. This is an indication of Also, the colour change would his ability to overwhelm the Nagas depend on the porosity of the and is also a potent symbol that he material. Yellow, brown and black has conquered desire. colours were achieved by using this method. The agate was soaked complete the bead was again Above: ancient DECORATED STONE BEADS and heated over a period of weeks heated to allow the design to and antique There are many types of ancient until the desired result was penetrate the surface of the bead. Burmese Pumtek beads agate beads (both decorated and attained. The non-porous Designs then became permanent. undecorated) that would be labelled crystalline areas of the stone were In cases where the design did not and recognised as dZi by Tibetans. not affected by this process3. take properly to the bead, the The most desirable of all the dZi This treatment would also whole process may have been beads however, are those decorated enhance the display of natural repeated. with eyes and designs that may banding and stripes in the stone. Many of the decorated beads resemble Buddhist symbols, aspects Decorations were applied to the we find on Tibetan heirloom Below: a Tibetan of the natural environment or even bead with a sticky alkaline mix that necklaces, have probably been child at a festival animals. A bead might show a vajra included sodium carbonate, water traded centuries ago from other is adorned with a 4 mix of both old (thunderbolt) or have a design that and plant juice . It is clear that parts of , with the majority other methods were also and more recently looks like a mountain peak or lotus having their origins in . made dZi beads, flower for example. used but they are not Despite many examples of other together with so well known. Once forms of decorated stone beads coral, amber, The process of decorating the decoration was appearing outside of the gold and ivory stone beads has been known since at least 2,500 BCE in the Indus Valley. Decorated carnelians (also known as ‘etched carnelians’) were probably the most widely traded of all. They were clearly in high demand for adornment and were likely to have had a much deeper significance to the wearer. Many of these beads displayed eyes and were probably used to ward off the ‘’ or give general protection against negative influences. Some beads display symbols that may have been associated to a particular god or deity. They were also traded widely in , and . It is also clear that there were highly skilled stone bead making industries in South East Asia. The incredible variety of stone beads from ancient Burma and are testimony to this.

There were numerous methods used to alter the colour and decorate stone beads in antiquity. Most methods were Left: recently made large, longevity dZi bead with red coral and turquoise THIS IS A FREE ARTICLE FROM SACRED HOOP MAGAZINE. Sacred Hoop is an independent magazine about Shamanism and Animistic Spirituality, based in West Wales, published four times a year since 1993. You may share this in any non-commercial way but reference to www.SacredHoop.org must be made if it is reprinted anywhere. To get a very special low-cost subscription to Sacred Hoop please visit : www.SacredHoop.org/offer.html It is important to remember that ancient dZi beads are ‘sacred’ amulets, not just nice looking A Chong or Chung dZi bead artefacts or interesting curio items

Himalayan regions, there are there are other types of decorated years and are an affordable Above: probably very few pure dZi that agate that are also desirable and alternative to the ancient beads. ancient have been found elsewhere. very valuable. These can include However, many sellers on a well striped dZi bead We can only speculate oval shaped dZi with the known internet auction site, approx 2,000 years old, threaded with red where pure dZi beads appearance of tiger stripes or oval continue to claim that beads which coral and turquoise beads might have been beads that appear to display a are less than ten years old are made, based on lotus or vase design. ancient or antique. This has known bead There are also Phum dZi, caused a lot of confusion in the making industries pronounced püm (the h being marketplace, and Tibet and the in antiquity. India silent). This name probably derives Himalayan regions are now full of is still by far the from the Tibetan word for vase. new beads that are being passed Ancient most likely These beads are decorated with off to unsuspecting tourists as old. tiger dZi contender but what has become known as the and are the ancient Persia ‘longevity’ design. This is probably largest producers of new dZi must also be because the decoration resembles beads, with the vast majority of the considered. the shell of a turtle, a recognised agate being imported from Brazil. symbol for wisdom and long life in Some beads are so well made that ANCIENT China. Phum dZi are usually fat they almost pass for the real thing. TREASURES beads with a grey to black base So it is always very wise to do your colour, and Tibetans believe they research before you part with huge The discovery of pure dZi seems to are the oldest of all the dZi beads sums of money. be concentrated in those areas found in Tibet. It is important to remember that Above: newly where Buddhism is practiced or created Taiwanese There are also beads called ancient dZi beads are ‘sacred’ once flourished. The ancient beads two-eyed dZi bead Tasso (Horse Tooth) and round amulets. They are not just nice we see today are nearly always tabular beads known as Luk Mik looking artefacts or interesting heirloom beads, and a small amount (Sheep’s Eye). The most widely curio items. If we are to preserve pass through the hands of traders. Below: Antique available of all the dZi types Tibetan traditions we must act as Tibetan 'Pema Raka' Genuine ancient beads will however is the Chong dZi. responsible custodians. If we do carnelian bead. usually have tell-tale signs that they not, then it will be a great loss to Sometimes worn have been worn for many hundreds With pure dZi, it is generally the future generations of practitioners. to protect against of years. I believe that very few harmful beads with an odd number of eyes pure dZi (if any) have been found spirits and unique designs that are the Bibliography and Notes in controlled archaeological digs. most valuable. A nine eyed dZi is 1: ‘Precious Essence, The Inner Although many beads that would Autobiography of Terchen Barway Dorje’ extremely sought after and prices be recognised as Chong dZi by Yeshe Gyamtso. for these beads are now said to be have been discovered in the 2: For an article about Nagas see Sacred Hoop Issue 58. 5 anywhere from $100,000 US to ground and documented . 3: ‘Gemstone Enhancement’ by K. Nassau. $1,000,000 US, however, you James Wainwright is a A Tibetan would give the name 4: ‘Sasanian Beads: The evidence of Art, would be extremely lucky if you vajrayana practitioner Chong or Chung dZi to a large Texts and Archaeology’ by St J. Simpson. and photographer. He could find one for sale. 5: Horace C. Beck recorded many finds variety of decorated agate beads often spends several Even the lowest priced pure dZi from the ancient Indian city of - see months of the year and also to the more widely ‘The Beads of Taxila’ published 1941. beads can run into many thousands travelling and exploring available undecorated or natural Nepal and India. He has of dollars, which only continues to Original Tibetan calligraphy below: agate beads. Although this name is a passion for Tibetan fuel - perhaps for the wrong ‘Blaze with Majestic Brilliance’ and Himalayan sacred now usually reserved by collectors © Copyright Tashi Mannox 2009. reasons? - more interest in these art in all its forms and outside of Asia, for the decorated www.tashimannox.com and beads in and outside of Asia. www.inkessential.blogspot.com is a keen collector of agate beads that have equatorial Himalayan beads. He With such high selling prices stripes. The name Chong actually lives in Cornwall, and the scarcity of these ancient England with his wife, refers to the type of stone being beads, there is always an Pema and two sons, used. In this case agate or Tashi and Tenzin. For inevitable influx of imitations. If chalcedony. This makes it clear the last 10 years he people know they are buying newly has been running his that the bead in question has been created beads there is no problem, online dharma store, made by human hands, and from a Garuda Trading in fact new beads have also mineral found in the ground. www.GarudaTrading.com become very collectible in recent Whereas a ‘pure’ dZi is never given For more information about dZi and other the name Chong, simply because types of Himalayan Tibetans are adamant they have a Chong or Chung dZi bead beads you can write to more sacred origin. the author at [email protected] or visit his blog Whilst pure dZi with eyes are www.dzibeads. the most sought after amulets, blogspot.com SH 36 ISSUE 67 2010