| Nirvana |
09-18-2008 04:22 PM |
dZi beads of the Himalayas
The most desirable of all beads in Tibet and the Himalayan regions is the dZi (GZi, Ghzi, Zi, Tzi) stone. DZi (pronounced zee or in some regions zur) is the Tibetan word for this most unusual decorated bead. The word Dzi translates as 'brightly burnished', 'luminous' or 'splendor' and ancient beads readily command thousands of dollars in the marketplace. Some original beads are thought to be thousands of years old and are now extremely rare. These ancient beads have a rich history in Tibetan folklore and Himalayan legend. The Tibetan people believe that only a person with extremely good 'karma' will have the fortune of owning such a bead. Some Tibetans say they originated around 3000 BCE which would make some beads 5000 years old, however, it is unclear as to the exact place of origin, their time of manufacture, or even how long they have been in existence. The earliest known records of Dzi are thought to date back to the time of King Gesar of Ling. It is widely believed that he reigned a little over 1000 years ago between the 7th and 9th Centuries CE. However, some historians say he could have lived even earlier (4th Century CE). The fact that they are shrouded in so much mystery is perhaps why they have become one of the most valuable beads known to man.
Are they a gift from the realm of the Gods, or are they Man-made?
There are many myths and legends that follow Dzi. Probably the main Himalayan belief is that they are not of earthly origin. Some say that they are dropped from the heavens by Gods to benefit those who have the good karma to find them. Because Dzi are thought to have divine origin, they are considered to be a precious and powerful amulet. Dzi stones can often be seen in Tibetan Monasteries adorning the most revered statues and sacred relics. You will also see them worn throughout the Himalayan regions. They are thought to bring good luck, ward off evil, and protect the wearer from physical harm and illness. It has even been claimed by Tibetan refugees that they protect the wearer from knife and bullet attacks!
Another belief is that they are the precious droppings of the 'Garuda'. These droppings fall to the ground when he flies through the sky. The Garuda has special importance in the tantric teachings of Tibetan Buddhism where he is sometimes seen as a manifestation of Guru Rinpoche. In the Hindu legends, the Garuda is seen as the steed of Vishnu and is recognized throughout the Himalayas. One story doing the rounds on the net is that a Taiwanese businessman escaped from a plane crash where there were only two survivors. He claimed that this was thanks to the Dzi he had recently purchased for protection. As a result of this story hitting the media, Dzi stones in Taiwan have become extremely sought after. Taiwan is also the place where most 'new' Dzi are being made.
In the practice of Tibetan Medicine powdered Dzi stone is mixed with ground gold, silver and pearl to produce medicinal pills (Tib: ril bu) with potent healing properties. Dzi are sometimes used by Tibetan Thangka painters to apply gold leaf to important paintings. It is also said that those who own a pure dZi will receive blessings directly from the Dragon King Nagarijun. Protection from illness and disease is therefore bestowed. A pure Dzi may also bring longevity, fortune, wealth and power. Tibetan people do not readily part with their Dzi. In fact it is not considered favorable to sell a dZi that has been in the family for generations. This is another reason that authentic Dzi are so scarce.
Each bead is unique in its appearance. Physical evidence shows that beads were decorated with chemical treatments and not etched as previously believed. This practice has been used since at least 2500 BCE. It is believed that agate was made darker by soaking it in a sugar rich solution and then heated, this process will caramelize the sugar and turn the agate brown. Acid treatments will burn the sugar until it turns the bead black. The majority of ancient agate beads have had some kind of treatment, even natural looking beads may have been darkened.
When purchasing a Dzi it is the intricate and unique designs that are valued greater. They command high prices and are difficult to come by. Some universally recognized patterns are zig zags, diamonds, nets, circles, squares, waves, and stripes. Colors will mainly range from browns to blacks with the pattern usually being in ivory white. Having said this, Dzi beads can appear in different colors, shapes and sizes. The most valuable of all beads is thought to be the Nine-Eyed or 13 Eyed Dzi. Generally beads that have 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 or 13 eyes are the most sought after. Next, it is Dzi that have unusual designs, inclusions and colors. Following these are beads that display an even number of eyes. Two Eyed Dzi appear to be more available in the marketplace than other designs, so they are priced lower. Then we have striped Dzi called Chung, the tabular Dzi called Luk Mik and other Dzi known as Tasso (Horse Tooth) and Tiger Dzi that are prized and collected. Lastly we have the natural ancient agates that were traded from Southern and Western Asia. Some Tibetans also name the more common natural agates as Chung Dzi. This is because they are made from the same material as authentic Dzi So they have become and are known as a lesser quality Dzi. However, Tibetans do not value natural agates in the same way as genuine eyed beads and authentic striped Chung Dzi, so natural agates are very much seen as their own distinct type of collectible bead.
Why are people prepared to pay so much money for a stone bead?
Well the same thought can be applied to rare diamonds, other rare gems or collectible treasures. In the Himalayas, Dzi are never thought of as just beads. They are seen as the rarest of precious gems that have the power to protect and bestow immense spiritual blessing. Dzi beads have been purchased, traded and even found by generations of Tibetans and Himalayan peoples. Apparently a good place to find a Dzi was near to a rock pool or hot spring. Some legends state that Dzi beads were once insect type creatures that crawled like worms. The moment they were touched by human hands they would be petrified and turned into Dzi. Tibetans even claim that their cattle would mistakenly eat this creature whilst grazing and would soon give birth to a Dzi!!
There is a story that tells of a man who once saw one of these crawling creatures. He threw his hat over it in an attempt to catch it. When he removed the hat, the insect had miraculously turned into a beautiful Dzi. Another legend tells us that the Dzi originated from a sacred mountain in Tibet. In ancient times, a stream was said to flow down its slopes. One day an evil sorcerer cast a spell upon the mountain and the flow immediately stopped. Today, a wealth of designs are seen on some Dzi beads, like a mountain and stream frozen in place. Many designs are said to predate Buddhism and they speak of a time when Tibetans were deeply connected to the natural environment. Designs are often compared to natural elements like the water, earth and sky and some beads display characteristics of animals both mythical and real -- like the dragon or tiger.
|
