Dzi bead (pronounced "zee" alternative spelling: gzi ) is a type of stone bead whose uncertain origin is used as part of a necklace and sometimes as a bracelet. In some Asian cultures, including Tibet, beads are thought to provide positive spiritual benefits. These beads are generally valued as a protective talisman and are sometimes ground into powder for use in traditional Tibetan medicine. Beads subject to this process have a small "dig mark" in which a portion of the bead has been scraped or milled for inclusion in the drug. Some dzi indicate grinding and polishing of one or both ends, again the result of reduction for use in traditional Tibetan medicine or, in some cases, due to the use of beads as a polishing tool in the application of gold leaf to thanka or gold bronze. Statues.
The most precious Dzi beads are from ancient times, made of natural agate. The original source of these beads is a mystery. While traditional beads, ancient styles are well-liked, modern-day dzi are gaining popularity among Tibetans.
Video Dzi bead
Name
The meaning of the Tibetan word "dzi" [????] translates to "shine, brightness, clarity, splendor." In Chinese, Dzi is called "heaven bead" or "heavenly pearl" (??? ti? N zh?).
Maps Dzi bead
Design
Dzi beads are made of agate, and may have decorative symbols consisting of circles, ovals, squares, waves or zig zags, lines, lines, diamonds, dots, and various other archetypes and symbolic patterns. Colors mainly range from brown to black, with a pattern usually in white ivory. Dzi beads can appear in different colors, shapes, and sizes; The surface is usually smooth and waxy, probably a result of wear and tear for long periods of time.
Sometimes natural patterns (usually "layered" swirls) of agate can be seen under or behind symbols and decorative designs, and sometimes not.
Some Dzi beads show what are referred to as "blood spots," which are small red dots in white areas, indicating iron content. This is a very desirable characteristic among collectors, but relatively rare. Another desired effect is "N? Ga skin," in which the surface of the beads shows small circular signs that resemble scales. Some dzi beads are simply polished, unadorned stones other than natural stone ribbons.
The number of "eyes," a circular design on a stone, is considered significant. The symbolic meaning of the beads is based on the number and arrangement of the dots.
Origin
The Dzi Stone first appeared between 2000 and 1000 BC, in ancient India: several hundred thousand people were brought back by Tibetan troops from Persia during the attack. The evil effects of the "evil eye" were taken very seriously by these people. Dzi considered against the evil eye. The craftsmen who create dzi create amulets with their "eyes" on them as a form of protection against fire by fire. Craftsmen use agate as a base stone, and then adorn the lines and shapes of beads using ancient methods that remain mysterious. Treatment may include darkening with plant sugar and heat, bleaching and white line etching with natron, and protecting certain areas with fat, clay, wax or similar substances. A hole was drilled before the bead was decorated because the drilling caused the most damage during the production process, and the hole was also useful for stringing and dipping many beads as a coloring step. The earliest holes are conical and are carried out with solid drilling drilling from both ends and, hopefully, meet near the center of the beads. Very small drill tips of crushed stone are used without abrasives and many other materials, regardless of hardness, when used with abrasives. Neolithic-era beads were also drilled with hollow, took turns moved by abrasion tubes and, later, during Chalcolithic, copper. It drills a hole with a agate core inside a tubular drill. Tubular bit holes are parallel walled rather than conical, but also done from both ends. Both of these methods require hard work done with arc drill, with time and effort determined by abrasive hardness, from sand of earth (quartz) to corundum.
Although the geographical origin of the Dzi beads is uncertain, it is accepted that they are now called "Tibetan beads," like Tibetan coral, which also came to Tibet from where other. Tibetans appreciate these beads and regard them as hereditary gems. In this way they have survived thousands of years, used by hundreds of individuals. Dzi is found mainly in Tibet, but also in neighboring countries of Bhutan, Nepal, Ladakh and Sikkim. Although the Dzi-type dome beads were created in the Indus Valley during the Harappan period and in various locations rich in agate precipitates in India, such as in Khambhat, since their Neolithic period, the earliest controlled archaeological findings of agate beads with Dzi-style decorations straight and curved lines and circular eyes are found to originate from the excavation of the Saka (Uigarak) culture in Kazakhstan, dated 7 - 5C. BC. This is said to be imported from India, reflecting long-distance trade with the more nomadic Saka or Scythian tribes.
Sometimes shepherds and farmers find Dzi beads on the ground or in the meadows. Therefore, some Tibetans traditionally believe or believe that dzi is naturally formed, not man-made.
Since the knowledge of beads comes from several different oral traditions, the beads have provoked controversy about their source, their method of making and even the exact definition. In Tibetan culture, these beads are believed to attract local protectors, dharmapala or gods or possibly beneficial ghosts, ancestors, or even bodhisattvas. Therefore, Dzi beads are always treated with respect.
New dzi
It has been reported that modern-day dzi-style beads were made in Idar Oberstein, Germany at least in the early nineteenth century C. The German agate cutter in Idar-Oberstein traded them since the Roman Period. They bring agate dyes to science and cutting and drilling to a level of mechanical perfection known to Germany.
Because of the most questionable origins of the most handmade beads and the high demand for them, there has been relatively recent reproduction reported in Asia. The most convincing replica of ancient Dzi beads came from Taiwan during the 1990s. China has also produced some good quality dzi beads for the past three years. However, the number of modern Dzis to be received as beautiful by the Tibetan community is very small, making these beads highly desirable. From photographs of contemporary Tibetans dressed in ceremonial attire, including many Dzi beads, their taste and choice are more new, shiny and large than small and damped by age patrimony, and possibly because of its shallow and naive appeal to no defects, regarded by many as the "Pure" Dzi, that they have allowed most of them to be completely ancient - oddities and accidents of time, nature, and culture influenced - heirlooms to be bought and/or exchanged for replicas. When one reads the current "amuletic" filling of the newer Dzi beads by Lamas to make them "pure" and gives them supernatural powers to replace the lost by taking a small chip, "digging," from the beads to digest as an ingredient in curative herbs, it is not difficult to understand how they fail to appreciate the beauty of age and "scar" experience and even see it as a useful destruction, but a vandalism still occurs. Superstitions and superstitious beliefs are integral to creating these scars, alike, thus causing harm in their desires. This is obviously similar to other tribal arts where cultural beliefs and rituals are essential to empowering artistic creation. In the opinion of this author, "pure" Dzi is a blank canvas, marble block, and signs of natural and cultural experience creating one of a kind.
A good dzi should be made of fine quality with cutting, drilling and decorations that take a few days. Modern methods and technologies such as lasers, sugars and modern chemicals, and vacuum chambers can produce excellent results. The appearance of candles is still desirable but sometimes lacking. Some very well-made new dzi are accepted by Tibetans because they are safe to wear in public because they look like ancient dzi. Some claim new dzi functions with the same efficacy as the old ones; others believe that ancient dzi's protective energy can move to a new dzi, if the stone has the same or better quality and the two beads are kept together or when the binding ritual is performed.
Dzi is also popular in China, Taiwan, Thailand and Singapore. Original ancient Dzi is too expensive for most Tibetans; those who have not had dzi for generations are no longer able to afford it. Some new Dzi have become highly collectible resulting in much higher prices. As happened in ancient times, only a handful of craftsmen know how to make beads that excel today. Less than a dozen people are producing really high-quality and beautiful beads; not much is known about who they are or where their workshop is.
With some exceptions, the new beads are not considered to have the mystical associations of ancient beads, but it is considered possible to give new powers the same dzi with some time and effort: 1) by taking them to be blessed by a lama or teacher; 2) bring them pilgrimage to holy places such as stupas and temples; and 3) recite mantras, as well as take a religious oath with them. The advantage of the new Dzi beads is that they do not carry the bad karma of the previous owner. It is considered possible to remove the rock of bad energy by soaking it in salt water for several hours, and then fanning the incense on it. Dzi should be treated with respect from that time. Sun basking and herbal smudging are also said to purify the beads. Offers aroma spirits and recitation Cintamani dharani is considered helpful in charging the beads as well.
Imitation dzi
Imitation dzi is made from materials other than agate or calcined. They can be made of glass, resin, lampwork, wood, bone, plastic, metal, or non-traditional etched stones. Imitation Dzi has a long history, some dating from several hundred years. Older mock Dzi has some collectible value. Some artificial dzi resins have a lead charging to gain weight.
Some people will also call the modern machine "mock dzi" is carved with a machine and digerinda machine. Almost always mass-produced, it's available for less than two dollars, and is often sold by strands. The etching on these cheap beads has been done very quickly, and the decoration does not penetrate into the core of the beads. This is usually targeted for sale to mainland Chinese customers as lucky feng shui charm.
Value
The market value for ancient beads can easily reach hundreds of thousands of US dollars - especially for beads with more "eyes." Small red cinnabar spots caused by iron inclusion in agate also increase in value. The newly scratched dzi is also very valuable as long as they are well made, containing traditional patterns, and are made of genuine agate without "dragon skin" or "dragon vein", with a clean, clean and shiny appearance and good abrasion simulation signs in the drill hole (this abrasion should be upward sloping, simulating thousands of years of abrasion yarn). New dzi prices range from about ten to two thousand US Dollars, depending on the quality and the luster. Because of the high value placed on them, Tibetans will usually only part with authentic dzi beads in extreme circumstances, such as theft, seizure by bank or government, or even murder. As a result, many Tibetans began to wear dzi reproduction in public, for fear of being stolen.
Similar beads
Similar to the Dzi beads is what is called chung dzi, which has been imported into Tibet since ancient times. These can be natural, innocent, or engraved bead beads (often with black and white striped patterns). Some are carnelians or black agate with a thin white etching pattern resembling the back of the turtle, which is an ancient pattern originating from the Indus Harappan culture era. The ancient Roman agate beads and Bactrian, Middle East, Chinese, Afghan, Yemen, and Indian carvings and carnival beads go to Tibet. All this is considered chung dzi (in Tibetan, "chung" means ordinary or general). Chung dzi is believed to have a similar nature to the real "edged" Dzi; they are less valuable, but they are highly regarded by the Tibetans and are also regarded as various dzi.
Another type of similar bead is called Luk Mik ("goat's eye") - it's a naturally-formed "one-eyed" coin (photo). Luk Mik is the ideal choice for traveling in Tibet.
The antique Pyu and Phumtek Burmese beads are similar in several ways to Dzi: they share some dzi bead patterns, but instead of agate, Phumtek is generally made of petrified petal palm, while Pyu's beads are often made of red or orange carnival with some white lines scratched thin alkali.
See also
- Evil eyes
- Hamsa
- Nazar (amulet)
- Thogchag
References
Further reading
- Ebbinghouse, David and Winsten, Michael (1988). "Tibetan bead dZi (gZi)". The Tibet Journal 13 (1): pp.Ã, 38-56.
External links
- The Legend of Tibetan Dzi Bead
- ???????? (?)
- Tibet dZi Beads and other Himalayan Beads
- Cinnabar Dzi Beads
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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