In the hearts of Tibetan compatriots, the so called dzi bead is a kind of very precious mascot. In Tibet, in the construction of temples, people there love to decorate buildings and worship Buddha with the dzi bead. For instance, on the clothing of the famous 12-year-old-like Shakyamuni statue in the Jokhang Temple, there inlaid with hundreds of dzi beads. Among all the beads, a nine-eye dzi bead of the best quality is inlaid in center of the crown worn by the Buddha. In the ground of Tashilhunpo Monastery where the Panchen Lama lived in is also inlaid with beads.
Tibetan Dzi Beads
The origins of dzi bead and what it is:
Who named the bead has been unable to verify already. In Hong Kong and Macao, it is called dzi bead while in Tibet, it is called “silk” and Chinese mainland name it “Nine-eye Bead.” According to Tibetan ancestors, the dzi bead was a kind of supernatural thing created by Buddha. It was formed naturally or fallen from the sky.
Tibetan Dzi Bead Bracelet
As a matter of fact, there is an ancient myth about Tibetan dzi bead. In ancient times, the dzi bead was a kind of decorative ornament worn by every deity. Whenever their beads were slightly or seriously damaged, the deities would throw them down to the earth. However, there is also another saying about the bead that it is actually a sort of biological fossil, being contemporary with nautilus and trilobites. Some evidences have been proposed that in places around the Himalaya-Tingri areas and fossil mountains of northern Tibet uninhabited area, the dzi bead fossils have been seen indeed. According to folk sayings of Tibet, once there was a person who saw a bug at the top of the mountain. Then he covered it with his hat. However, when he removed his hat, the bug had been petrified and turned into a dzi bead.
Tibetan Dzi Bead Necklace
The dzi bead is the most precious protective talisman. People on this Tibetan plateau firmly believe that as long as they sincerely worship and wear the dzi bead, the bead in return will eliminate obstacles for them, bless them and prevent them from stroke as well as being hurt by evils. Moreover, the bead will enhance people’s strength and add wealth also. It is heard that before the enthronement ceremony of the reincarnated soul boy, there is a preparation ceremony called “Removing Dust”, referring to clean off secular atmosphere of the reincarnated soul boy in order to make him an authentic living Buddha. This preparation ceremony is to wrap the reincarnated body with dzi beads by eminent monks at the night before the enthronement ceremony. The so-called “wrap” is to roll the bead back and forth for nine times on his head, body trunk and arms and legs, aiming to remove his secular atmosphere.
