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‘The Origin of Prayer Beads ‘The Spread of Prayer Beads ‘Dimensions ‘Materials @ |
‘Usage ‘Benefits of Nenju ‘How to choose |
Prayer Beads originated in India where they are said to have been made from seads and wood as a tool to help people keep track of how many times they have prayed.
Prayer Beads were used by Buddists of the noble class. Their usage became wide spred from the Kamakura era onward as commoners begin to carry prayer beads like Buddhist priests.
The size of prayer beads is still measured in using Shakkanho, an ancient Japanese mesuring system. Basic number of beads is 108, the shows the number of human passions we all have.
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* Formal Prayer Beads Women............8sun (24cm) Men..............shaku (30cm) `shaku 6sun (48cm) |
* Simplified Prayer Beads Women............8sun 5bu (bead size 6`8mm) Men..............9sun 5bu (bead size - over10mm) |
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* Seeds Seigetsu Linden Tree / Hogan Linden Tree / Ryugan Linden Tree / Kongo Linden Tree / etc. |
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* Woods Ume Tree / Mlberry Tree / Red Sandal Wood / Ebony / Bombey Black Wood / Chinaberry Tree / Betel Palm Tree / etc. |
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* Fragrant Wood Sandalwood / Aloeswood Tree / etc. |
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* Natural Stones Crystal / Agate / Tiger-eye / Chalcedony / Brown Crystal / Amethyst / Lapis Lazuli / Turquoise / etc. |
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* Others Coral / Amber / Animal Bones / Pearls / Glass / Plastic / ect. |
When praying to Amida Buddha, hang your Nenju(prayer beads) on your left hand and put your hands together. @@Λ Each sect's way of holding fomal prayer beads.
It is said that nenju is a protective charm against evil spirits and brings happiness, and the following materials are said to have such qualities.
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Linden tree...........infinitie happiness@/@Crystal...............Billions time happiness Coral.................Hundred times happiness@/@etc. |
We offer general prayer beads (simplfied and formal prayer beads) for any Japanese sect of Buddhism except Nichiren sect. We recommend Nichiren and Jodo sect believers should have formal ones.
