Dzi beads popularity catching on in Malaysia
What has ‘eyes’, is usually dark in colour and claims to offer spiritual protection to its owners? THAM AI MEI susses out some patterned beads from Tibet that are proving to be increasingly popular with ‘New Age’ Malaysians.
If you are one of those rather superstitious or “New Age-y” few who have tried healing crystals and consulted countless feng shui masters, chances are you are already pretty well versed with the newest addition to the family of wealth enhancing, health improving gadgets called dzi (pronounced as “ji”) beads.
Haven’t heard of the curiously named beads? The mysterious and often-controversial dzi beads are basically shiny stone beads that often feature a universally recognised pattern, usually that of “eyes”, circles, squares or certain stripes and wave patterns.
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Dzi beads arranged in a Star of David pattern is believed to enhance good energy in your home. |
Leading me through her collection of impressive dzi beads, avid collector and owner of Mega Management Network (which counts selling dzi beads and trinkets as part of its businesses) Lynda Ho Chooi Wah is clearly pleased to tell me that the mysterious beads are fast becoming popular items.
“While some people here in KL might not have heard about dzi beads before, many of those in places like Taiwan, Hong Kong as well as our Singaporean friends and those in Johor Baru are already considering these beads hot property,” Ho tells me enthusiastically.
Cynics would be shaking their heads by now but there is no denying that the beads’ very origins (Tibet, being the former home of the Dalai Lama, has always been associated with the mystical and the holy) certainly lend it a metaphysical air.
These rare pieces are usually made of etched agate or chalcedony (a type of quartz) and have been known to be placed upon religious figurines to enhance the talismanic powers of the holy statues.
The fact that dzi beads are so deeply entrenched in Tibetan culture makes them not only doubly appealing to bead fanatics but also highly difficult to gauge the time of their origin. Tibetans treasure these beads so much that they are very often reluctant to part with their beads, thus very few authentic dzi beads have made their way to the Western world. What makes it even more difficult to find out more about these intriguing things is the fact that Tibetans impose cultural restrictions when it comes to excavations on their land.
As with all things ancient and mystical, there is plenty of folklore associated with the dzi beads. One tale has it that demi-gods threw away their dzi beads when they became ever so slightly blemished, which sort of explains why most authentic dzi beads are seldom found to be in perfect condition. Another legend has it that a man spotted an insect in one of the high mountains and decided to capture it by throwing a hat on top of it. Upon uncovering the hat, the man found that the mysterious insect had turned into a dzi bead.
The power of dzi
Donning a dzi bead is akin to having an invisible force field protect you from the bad elements of the supernatural world, many believers claim. Evil spirits, sickness and sudden death are warded off with the presence of a powerful dzi bead. The Tibetans believed in the power of the bead so much that there are even instances whereby it was used for medicinal purposes. For example, the ancient Tibetans ground dzi beads and mixed it up with other “magical” ingredients to be served as a pill to those suffering from epilepsy.
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Dzi originates from Tibet, whose people believe in the power of the bead. |
Ho holds up a nine-eyed bead and explains: “The most favoured bead is usually the nine-eyed one, as it is said to have the powers to bring about compassion, power and glory.” In fact, there is an urban legend going around that tells of a certain Taiwanese businessman called Mr Chen who had been wearing a nine-eyed dzi bead and miraculously survived a China Airline crash in Nagoya.
Besides the “eye” dzi beads, there are some pieces that boast some rare patterns and are equally potent in their protective powers. One particular dzi bead that caught my eye was one that had the silhouette of the Goddess of Mercy Kuan Yin outlined on its matt, dark brown surface.
“This is a very precious indeed,” Ho acknowledged. “The Kuan Yin shape on the bead helps you with being more compassionate, and ushers in all things auspicious. This bead would be great for those who travel a lot, because it can promote personal safety. It will help in warding off traffic accidents.”
Besides the coveted Kuan Yin dzi, the poh phing (treasure form) dzi is also beneficial in protecting its wearer as it is said to have powers of enhancing safety and preventing bad luck. Been feeling sick lately? Try on the garuda dzi to ward off sickness and pain as well as to dispel of evil influences and bad luck. Amongst the many other dzi beads are the tiger tooth dzi (for removal of obstacles and to promote fearlessness), the nirvana ruyi dzi (for improved enlightenment and spiritual protection) and dragon eye dzi (which helps in creating happiness, merit and wealth).
How much are they worth?
Before you go rushing out to the nearest shop or stall to buy your very own dzi bead, bear in mind that just like DVDs in the Malaysian market, there are authentic ones and there are those that are but poor imitations of the originals. A dzi bead must be made of agate. Those made from wood, glass or bone are not considered real dzi beads.
Because of the reluctance of most dzi bead owners to let go of their prized pieces (especially so if the beads are passed down from their ancestors), the older beads are usually those that are most highly priced.
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Ho stressed that it is better to have your dzi beads near your bodily self as it will help in promoting good aura. |
Now, a bead that dates from between 1,000 and 2,000 years old would be considered a rare find and would be classified as a true collector’s item. At the time of writing this article, a quick search on eBay (the Internet auction site) revealed that an ancient Tibetan nine-eyed dzi bead dating back to more than 1,500 years was commanding a selling price of close to US$14,000 (RM53,200) (source: cgi.ebay.com).
The non-collectors amongst us can just make do with new beads that are equally attractive in their appearance, even if they are not “created by the hands of God”. As long as the beads are made from treated agate and are made by skilled artisans trained exclusively in the art of dzi bead making, the pieces will still be considered highly priced amongst bead collectors, Buddhism practitioners and even Tibetans themselves. Currently, a regular new bead would cost RM80 or more.
“One good thing about the dzi bead is that it can be worn by everyone regardless of race, religion, gender and age because these beads are not meant to be religious. Its main purpose is to promote the good aura of a person. We have customers who come from all backgrounds and are of different religions,” says Ho.
Ho’s dzi bead stall can be found in Amcorp Mall’s weekend bazaar (on the lower ground level on Saturdays and third floor on Sundays) in Kuala Lumpur. They are occasionally in KL’s Bangsar Shopping Complex’s flea markets on Saturdays. For more information, call 03- 2095 3929.
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