size:52mm/2inch




dZi Beads
         The unique dZi (Pronounced zee) bead, a black-and-white (or dark brown) bead of etched or treated agate, is revered in Tibet. To Tibetans and other Himalayan peoples, the dZi is a "precious jewel of supernatural origin" with great power to protect its wearer from disaster.
         There is little precise information available on dZi beads. They are found primarily in Tibet, but also in neighboring Bhutan, Ladakh, and Sikkim. Shepherds and farmers pick them up in the grasslands or while cultivating fields. Because dZi are found in the earth, Tibetans cannot conceive of them as man-made. Since knowledge of the bead is derived from oral traditions, few beads have provoked more controversy concerning their source, method of manufacture, and definition.
         Mythical stories are usually told to explain the origin of dZi. In ancient times, it is said dZi adorned the gods, who discarded them when they became blemished, thus explaining why they are seldom found in perfect condition. Another story is that dZi were originally insects that moved around like worms and became petrified. One Tibetan gave the following version: "There is a legend of a man on a horse who saw the bead move. If you don't cover it with dust, it will disappear. The man threw dust over the bead and caught it, and it petrified. But dZi beads do not remain with unlucky people. The same man traded the bead for so many yak. The point is, the bead was not meant to be with him-the animals were." Other Tibetan tales concern unfortunates who sell a valuable dZi, only to become ill or die soon after. Tibetans are loath to sell prized dZi even for the highest prices.
         In some ways dZi resemble etched carnelian beads traded between Mesopotamia, Afghanistan, and the Indus Valley during the third millennium B.C. Indian and Iranian craftsmen continued making these beads into the first millennium A.D. Although the techniques for making dZi beads may be derived from ancient Indian craftsmen, the beads themselves are never found there. Because dZi are found only in the Himalayas, it appears certain that they were made locally. The actual etching of the dZi agate is accomplished by several methods, and scholars have classified all etched beads, including dZi, into several major types and subdivisions based upon their technique of manufacture.
         The exact origins and dates of dZi remain elusive. Because Tibetan religious beliefs have long prevented archaeological excavations ( earth spirits, it is believed, would resent intrusion into the earth ) , no beads have been recovered in Tibet under controlled research circumstances. Chinese texts, however, mention dZi beads as early as the seventh century A.D. Legend suggests the beads ( or the technical knowledge for making them ) came to Tibet in very ancient times from Iran or the "Empire of the Arabs," where the Bon faith, Tibet's pre-Buddhist religion, possibly originated as well. The antiquity of dZi beads has been suggested as a major reason for their great value throughout the Himalayan region.
         "Pure" dZi beads ( in the traditional Tibetan system for evaluating dzi ) are regarded as the most valuable and desirable variety. To qualify as pure, a bead must be genuine etched agate and lie within a certain range of styles. It should also have a sharply delineated pattern, symmetrical shape, strong color, glossy surface, and no flaws. Etched agate beads not considered pure are called chung dzi, or "less important dZi."





 
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