Tibetan Dzi

Tibetan dZi beads are felt by Tibetans to be of supernatural origins. It is inconceivable to most Tibetans queried told the same set of stories concerning the origin of dZi . Offered first was the belief that in ancient times dZi were the ornaments of semi-gods who threw them away whenever they became blemished even slightly; this is said to be the reason that hardly any of the beads are found in perfect condition. Next came the story involves a man who saw one of these 'insects' high in the mountains and threw his hat over it to capture it. When he removed the hat, the 'insect' had become petrified. In its place lay a dZi . Other stories relate that dZi were encountered in the high mountains by someone with especially good karma who managed to catch them. But in coming into contact with the human touch, the dZi petrified. Other tales are told of dZi being found in slaughtered animal horns or in cattle dung. Dr. R. Nebesky-Woikowitz (1952) recounts in 'Prehistoric Beads From Tibet,' a legend from Ngari, Western Tibet.

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It is believed that dZi originated from a mountain near Rudok. In ancient times, they were said to flow down its slopes like streams. One day, however, a wicked woman ;cast the evil eye' on the mountain and the flow immediately stopped. And to this day, so the legend claims, the characteristic black and white stripes of the dZi are still seen where the dZi once issued. The 'insect' theory of the origin of dZi seems to be very widespread and is cited to explain various peculiarities. This, the Tibetan claim, is why sometimes a great number of dZi are found forming a kind of 'nest'. Some believe that even after the beads have been unearthed, some will continue to move about for a little while. In any case, to the Tibetan, the dZi is not man-made bead, but a precious jewel of supernatural origin.

Because it is magic, the dZi has the power to protect its wearer from catastrophe. Just as jadee is worn to forestall accidents and turquoise is worn to purify the blood and protect from jaundice, so is the dZi worn to ward off attacks by evil spirits which might cause sudden sickness and death. Not only are dZi worn in the traditional (Central Tibet) woman's necklace with read coral, pearls and a gold charm box studded with turquoise but also about the neck on a shot cord by both men and women (and usually faced on either side by a red coral). Women will generally have a few more coral and turquoise beads in this strand as well but the minimal prerequisite is the dZi to serve as protection to its wearer. If the bead should somehow become broken while it is being worn, this is taken as evidence that the bead has done its job and absorbed the shock of the supernatural attack intended for its wearer. This renders the dZi useless for any further amuletic protection. This is why any broken dZi is no longer pure. dZi bead are also used by Tibetan doctors as an ingredient in some of the pills they make to treat epilepsy. An unbroken dZi is made broken and part of it is ground up along with various herbs to make the pills.

Many stories circulate among the Tibetans concerning persons who have sold a valuable dZi only to fall ill or die sometime thereafter. This causes Tibetans to be very unwilling to sell dZi of high quality even for the high sums which one hears quoted in the market for the various types.

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