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Garuda Trading has one of the largest selections of ancient agate beads for sale on the net. We also source many other collectible beads which we find on our bi-annual buying trips to the Himalayas. Certainly the most desirable of all beads in Tibet and the Himalayan regions is the dZi ( which may also be spelled gZi, ghzi, zi, tzi). The word dZi is pronounced zee or in some regions zur, it translates as 'brightly burnished', 'luminous' or 'splendour'. Ancient beads are considered to be sacred amulets and will readily command thousands of dollars in the marketplace. Ancient dZi play a significant role in traditional Tibetan beliefs and Himalayan folklore. Many Tibetans believe they can be dated to as early as 3000 BCE, however, it is unclear as to their 'exact' place of origin and time of manufacture. The earliest known records are thought to date back to the time of King Gesar of Ling. It is widely believed that he reigned a little over 1000 years ago, somewhere between the 7th and 9th Centuries CE. However, some historians say he could have lived even earlier (4th Century CE). Ancient decorated agates have been sourced in many other locations that include: Iran, Afghanistan, Nepal, India, Ladakh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, China, Malaysia, Pakistan, Thailand and Vietnam.
Many ancient agate beads sourced in the Himalayan regions, were likely to have been brought there by outside traders. We can see that the trade of dZi and decorated agates was not limited to the Himalayas. However, it does seem that the Himalayan regions are the most important areas for the discovery of these beads today. The fact that they are still shrouded in so much mystery only continues to fuel people's fascination and desire to own them.
Are they a gift from the realm of the Gods, or are they Man-made?
There are many myths and legends that surround the dZi bead. Tibetans generally believe dZi are of divine origin and therefore not created by human hands. Some say they are dropped by Gods to benefit those who have the good fortune to find them. Because they are thought to have a divine source, they are considered to be a precious and powerful amulet. Beads can often be seen in Tibetan temples adorning the most revered statues and sacred relics. They are thought to bring good fortune, ward off evil, and protect the wearer from physical harm and illness. It has even been claimed by Tibetan refugess that they protect the wearer from knife and bullet attacks!
Another belief is that they are the precious dung of the 'Garuda' bird. These droppings fall to the ground when he flies through the sky. The Garuda has special importance in the tantric teachings of Tibetan Buddhism where he is sometimes seen as a manifestation of Guru Rinpoche. In the Hindu legends, the Garuda is seen as the steed of Vishnu and is recognised throughout the Himalayas. One story doing the rounds on the internet, is that a Taiwanese businessman escaped from a plane crash where there were only two survivors. He claimed that this was thanks to the dZi he had recently purchased for protection. As a result of this story hitting the media, dZi stones in Taiwan have become extrememly sought after. Taiwan is also the source of most 'new' dZi we see in the marketplace.
In the practice of Tibetan Medicine, powdered dZi is mixed with ground gold, silver and pearl to produce medicinal pills (Tib: ril bu) with potent healing properties. There are also clear records of dZi being used in Tibetan medicine from at least the 12th century CE. Genuine dZi are also used by Tibetan Thangka painters to apply gold leaf to important paintings. It is also said that those who own a pure dZi will receive blessings directly from divine beings. A pure dZi is also believed to bring longevity, healing, fortune, wealth and power. Tibetan people do not readily part with their dZi. In fact it is not considered favourable to sell a dZi that has been in a family for generations. This is another reason that authentic dZi are seldom seen in the marketplace.
Physical evidence shows that beads were decorated with chemical treatments. This practice has been known since at least 2500 BCE in Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley. It is believed that agate was made much darker by applying a sugar rich solutuion to the surface. By heating the bead the sugar would caramelise and the bead would turn brown. Acid treatments would burn the sugar and turn the bead black. The majority of ancient agate beads have had some kind of treatment, even the most natural looking beads have probably been darkened. This method also helps to highlight the crystalline banding in the stone.
When purchasing a dZi it is the eyed beads and beads with unique designs that are valued greater. A flawless and unique bead can command the highest prices and are not easy to come by. Common decorations can include zig zags, diamonds, circles, squares, waves, and stripes. The most sought after body colour will usually range from brown to black with the decoration being clearly defined and having good contrast. Having said this, dZi beads like all ancient beads are highly collectible whatever their colour, shape and type of decoration.
The most valuable of all beads is thought to be the Nine-Eyed or 13 Eyed dZi. Generally beads that have 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 or 13 eyes (odd numbers) are the most sought after. Although dZi that have unusual decorations, inclusions and colours can sometimes command more. Following this are beads that display an even number of eyes. Two Eyed beads appear to be more common in the marketplace so they are usually priced much lower. Next we have dZi that are decorated with stripes, these are called Chung dZi (although any ancient agate bead can also be known by this name). There are also tabular dZi called Luk Mik (Sheep's Eye) or Ta Mik (Horse Eye), dZi known as Tasso (Horse tooth), Tiger dZi (oval decorated dZi with double stripes) and Phum dZi (fat grey/black decorated agates with the net or longevity design). Lastly we have the undecorated ancient agates that were traded primarily from India.
According to Himalayan folklore, a good place to find dZi is near to a rock pool or hot spring. Beads are also said to be found in freshly ploughed fields. Other legends tell us that dZi were once creatures that crawled like worms. The moment they are touched by human hands they are turned into a dZi (complete with perforation). Tibetans even claim that their cattle would mistakenly eat these creatures whilst grazing in the fields and later give birth to them in the form of a dZi bead.
There is also a common story that tells of a man who once saw one of these worm-like creatures. He quickly threw his hat over it in an attemp to catch it. When he removed the hat, the worm had miraculously turned into a beautiful dZi. Another legend tells us that the dZi originated from a sacred mountain in Tibet. In ancient times, a stream was said to flow down its slopes. One day an evil sorcerer cast a spell upon the mountain and the flow immediately stopped. This is said to account for why many ancient dZi display decorations, like a mountain and stream frozen in place. Many of the decorations are said to predate Buddhism and they reflect a time when people were deeply connected to nature. The symbols that appear on dZi are often compared to natural elements like the water, earth and sky. Some beads are said to display characteristics of animals both mythical and real -- like a dragon or tiger.
Although ancient beads are the most sought after, newly made dZi beads are still highly collectible for their beauty. New beads created in the last 30 years (but mainly in the last 15 years) have also been known to command very high prices. If we view each bead as a miniature work of art with special symbolism, then this helps us to see why people pay vast sums of money to own them. For a bead to be recognised as a dZi it must be made of agate. Beads made from glass, bone, resin, wood or any other material are not dZi, they are merely imitations.
New dZi beads are an affordable alternative to the much more expensive ancient beads. Some of the best new dZi are made by skilled artisans who have been passed the skills of bead making through previous generations of bead makers. Others are made by those who have developed their own bead making skills. Each maker will fine tune their own method which will ensure the quality and uniqueness of each bead. These techniques are often kept a closely guarded secret. Despite the fact that there are numerous makers of 'new' dZi, it is still extremely difficult to imitate ancient dZi beads.
Today, fine quality and poor imitation beads are being made in Tibet, Japan, Nepal, Singapore, China and Taiwan. Although these are obviously not created by the hands of gods, they are treated agates that are created in a similar way to ancient decorated beads. They have become highly sought after by Tibetans, Buddhist practitioners and bead collectors. They can be added to a necklace, you can string them on a mala or even set a dZi into a ring or pendant.
Ancient dZi are still used as hard currency in the Himalayas. In fact we know of one Tibetan family who recently bought substantial land and property with the trade of one dZi bead alone. Many Tibetans continue to purchase authentic turquoise, amber, coral and dZi because they know it will give them a very good return on their investment.
Over the past 20 years, ancient dZi have become more desirable in and outside of Asia. We manage to source a small amount of these beads every year but this is certainly not going to last forever. Below you will find a selection of both ancient and recently created dZi. If for any reason you are not entirely satisfied with your purchase you may return it for a full refund (see terms). We offer you a complete guarantee that our beads are of the highest quality and are authentic.
Please note that the bead you see on our website is the bead that you will receive. All of our dZi are made from genuine agate and all are suitable to be worn. We have a vast selection of beads that are not shown on the website so please contact us for further information. We are also able to source ancient dZi through a reliable network of dZi dealers in Asia. So if you are looking for a special bead please contact us.
The majority of our beads are sourced by ourselves in the Himalayan regions. Others come from private collections. The modern dZi we sell are mainly purchased in Nepal and are no more than 15 years old. They are an affordable alternative to our ancient beads. It is also important to recognise that our bead prices are based on the individual 'merits' of each bead and not based on a 'one price fits all' system. This means that we pay a premium for individual beads that we source because they are the best of their kind.
We are always striving to increase our understanding of these wonderful beads and readily accept comments and suggestions to improve the acurracy of our information. A wealth of stone beads have been traded over thousands of years with the people of the Himalayas, these beads have become deeply rooted in their folklore, myths and legends. We feel very privileged to be able to offer these beads to you.
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