Material: Cinnabar. 108-Bead Prayer Beads

Size: 8 mm

Description:

Cinnabar (also known as cinnabar or cinnabar) is a natural mineral, considered a precious treasure in traditional Chinese culture. Its vibrant red color symbolizes auspiciousness, protection from evil, and spiritual strength. In Buddhism, cinnabar is often used as a ritual implement, particularly in the form of "Cinnabar Offerings" or "Cinnabar Buddhist Beads," with 108 beads being the most common form. These 108-bead cinnabar prayer beads are not only a tool for practitioners to chant mantras daily, but also play a vital role in various Buddhist rituals, blending elements of Han and Tibetan Buddhism. Below, I will detail their role in Buddhist rituals, their origins, and the stories and legends surrounding them.

1. Role in Buddhist Ritual

In Buddhist rituals, the 108-bead cinnabar prayer beads are primarily used as ritual implements, helping practitioners focus their minds and chant mantras, and possessing spiritual properties to ward off evil and protect the body. Their red color not only symbolizes the auspiciousness and wisdom of the Dharma, but is also believed to balance the body and mind and dissipate negative energy. Specific uses include:

1. **Mantra and Sutra Recitation Tools**: During daily practice or large-scale rituals (such as salvation and blessing ceremonies), practitioners hold cinnabar prayer beads and silently chant the Buddha's name (such as "Namo Amitabha" or the six-syllable mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum") while moving the beads. 108 beads correspond to a complete "circle of recitation," symbolizing the elimination of the 108 worldly afflictions (including greed, anger, and ignorance), helping participants enter a meditative state, calming their minds and achieving peace of mind. In Tibetan Buddhism, these prayer beads are often used during Tantric initiations and fire offerings to enhance the effectiveness of mantras.

2. **Evil-Repelling and Protective Functions**: Cinnabar is known as the "king of evil spirits," and its masculine energy is said to dispel the evil spirit of Tai Sui and block negative energy. In Buddhist consecration ceremonies or prayers for the protection of the nation, cinnabar prayer beads are often used as amulets. Worn or placed at the altar, they symbolize the protection of the 108 bodhisattvas, bringing good fortune and prosperity. Cinnabar is considered one of the "Seven Treasures" in Buddhism (gold, silver, glass, cinnabar, agate, coral, and amber). It is used to affix the space between the eyebrows of Buddha statues (for consecration) or to decorate Buddhist scriptures, enhancing the ritual's efficacy.

3. **Symbolism and Educational Significance**: During Dharma lectures or lay training sessions, teachers often use cinnabar prayer beads to explain Buddhist teachings. The 108 beads represent the "100-eight afflictions," and the process of reciting them symbolizes the gradual elimination of attachment and the attainment of inner peace. The rosy red color of these prayer beads also symbolizes the Buddhist principle of "giving charity with rosy red," reminding participants to practice generosity with compassion.

Overall, the 108-bead cinnabar prayer beads are not only a practical tool but also a spiritual anchor in rituals, helping believers return to peace from chaos. In particular, during Tibetan Buddhist thangka offerings or Chinese Buddhist monk-feeding ceremonies, they serve as a bridge connecting the ordinary world with the Buddha's realm.

II. Origin

The origins of the 108-bead cinnabar prayer beads combine the common origins of prayer beads with the unique craftsmanship of cinnabar, tracing back to ancient Indian Buddhism and then to the integration of Han Chinese and Tibetan Buddhism.

1. **Common Origin of Prayer Beads**: Prayer beads (Sanskrit: mālā, meaning "garland") originated in ancient India and were used for counting flower offerings and chanting mantras. After Buddhism was introduced to China, they evolved into a standard size of 108 beads, stemming from the Buddhist concept of the "108 defilements" (six sense organs × three sense objects × two delusion × two obstacles × three realms = 108). In Han Buddhism, prayer beads are often made of wood, bone, or gemstones. Tibetan Buddhism, however, developed the practice of "offering," in which bodhi seeds (such as the star-moon bodhi tree) are dipped in cinnabar to create a distinctive red patina.

2. **Specific Origins of Cinnabar**: Cinnabar, as a material, originates from ancient Chinese alchemy and Taoist culture, where it was considered an "elixir of life" and a "sacred object to ward off evil." As early as the Shang and Zhou dynasties, cinnabar was used in tombs and talismans, symbolizing imperial power (such as red-inked imperial edicts). After the introduction of Buddhism, during the Tang Dynasty (roughly 7th-9th centuries), Han Chinese monks brought alchemy techniques to Tibet. These techniques were refined by Tantric lamas, resulting in the "cinnabar offering" technique. Star-moon bodhi seeds (bodhi tree seeds, symbolizing enlightenment) are dipped in over 20 Tibetan herbs (such as cinnabar and realgar) at low temperatures for several months, naturally coloring the beads to a regal crimson luster. This red color is not only durable but also believed to embody the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, enhancing the wearer's wisdom and concentration.

Another folklore states that Tibetan lamas often wore prayer beads over their red robes. Rain, moisture, and sunlight gradually stained the beads with vermilion, forming a natural patina. While this theory is romantic, the mainstream view is still based on the tradition of alchemy from the Tang Dynasty. Cinnabar was officially included in the "Seven Treasures" of Buddhism around the Tang and Song dynasties. It was used to paint Buddhist statues and embellish scriptures, and gradually incorporated into prayer beads, becoming a common ritual implement by the Ming and Qing dynasties.

III. Related Stories and Legends

The stories surrounding the 108 Cinnabar prayer beads primarily encompass legends about their origins and anecdotes about their efficacy, reflecting Buddhist teachings of compassion and karma.

1. **The Origin of the Rosary: ​​"King Jingjin and the Origin of the Rosary"** (from the "Buddha's Speech on the Vajra Sutra" and the "Vajra Peak Yoga Rosary Sutra")

According to legend, when Shakyamuni Buddha was preaching on Vulture Peak, a small and weak kingdom existed nearby. The king, named King Jingjin, suffered from rampant plague and invasions from neighboring kingdoms, leaving his people in dire straits. The king prostrated himself before the Buddha, who instructed him to chant the Buddha's name 108 times daily to accumulate merit and ward off disasters. However, the king worried, "How can I count my subjects, many of whom are illiterate?" The Buddha compassionately instructed him to draw lines on the ground with a tree branch, chanting the Buddha's name once for each line. The king followed his instructions and gradually saw results, but drawing lines was time-consuming. Later, he switched to stringing animal bones together, chanting a single numeral for each bone removed. This evolved into shells or wooden beads. Finally, the Buddha manifested as a "perfect garland" with 108 beads, instructing: "Chant the mantra with these beads, and offer them to the Buddha as many petals as you can, to eliminate afflictions and attain enlightenment." The king saved his country and brought peace to his people, and the rosary spread throughout the world. This story emphasizes the rosary's practicality and compassionate nature, with the 108 beads symbolizing the perfect journey of liberation from affliction.

2. **A Miraculous Story of Cinnabar: Tang Monk Xuanzang and the Cinnabar Protector** (Folk Buddhist legend, incorporating elements from "Journey to the West")

During his journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures, the eminent Tang Dynasty monk Xuanzang encountered demonic obstacles. One day, while crossing the desert, he encountered the "Red Sand Demon King," who caused chaos and infected many of his disciples with an epidemic. Recalling his master's teachings, Xuanzang applied cinnabar to his forehead and onto a scroll, silently reciting the "Great Compassion Mantra of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva." Suddenly, a brilliant red light emanated, the demon king retreated, and the epidemic was eradicated. After returning to China, Xuanzang incorporated cinnabar into Buddhist beads, teaching his disciples: "Cinnabar is like the red lotus of a bodhisattva, warding off evil and protecting the path. Holding it is like having the Buddha by your side." Cinnabar prayer beads subsequently became a ritual implement of Tangmi, symbolizing "red powder and good karma." Within Tibetan Buddhism, they evolved into "cinnabar offerings," used in rituals to protect the nation. Another Tibetan legend tells of a lama in seclusion in the snowy mountains who was haunted by evil spirits. He then dyed bodhi seeds with cinnabar to create beads. After chanting a mantra, a red light shot up into the sky, and the evil spirits dissipated. From then on, the beads became known as the "Emperor's Offering," promising increased wisdom and protection from disasters.

These stories not only explain the practical value of the 108-bead cinnabar prayer beads but also deepen their spiritual meaning: from a counting tool to a sacred object to a symbol of enlightenment. They remind practitioners that sincerity, regardless of the ostentatiousness of the ritual, is the key to success. Today, cinnabar prayer beads remain popular among believers, serving as a daily protective tool and spiritual practice. If you wish to personally craft them, it's best to have them consecrated by a revered monk to enhance their merits.