Juzu (数珠), also known as Nenju (念珠), are Buddhist prayer beads traditionally used to count recitations of the Buddha’s name or mantras. They are also held during Buddhist services and prayers, although their use varies among sects.
A traditional full-length Juzu has 108 beads, a number associated with the 108 worldly attachments or defilements (bonnō) in Buddhist teaching. Shorter types are also widely used. Juzu are considered meaningful religious objects, and I believe they should be treated as personal possessions rather than casually shared.
Although Juzu are used in Buddhist services within Zen traditions, they are not normally used when practising zazen (seated meditation).
According to the Mokugenji Sutra, the Buddha advised a king troubled by suffering in his country to string together 108 soapberry seeds and recite the names of the Three Treasures—the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. This is a traditional Buddhist account of the origin of prayer beads.
Historically, Juzu were already in use in Japan during the Nara period (710–794). Surviving examples from the eighth century are preserved in museum collections.
The photograph shows a Shingon-style Juzu made from star-and-moon bodhi seeds, agate, and silk. It is suitable for both men and women. Shingon-style prayer beads may also be used in some other Buddhist traditions, although the customary forms and ways of using Juzu differ among sects.
