Buddhist Accessories
Essential for religious faith in Japan
Kyoto is Japan’s capital of Buddhist culture, where many Buddhist temples can be seen throughout the city. Naturally, Kyoto’s Buddhist altars, accessories and related equipment were developed in response to demand created by these numerous temples, as well as by ordinary households. These are not only essential tools for their belief, but are also forms of composite art that integrate craftsmanship.
Juzu - Buddhist Rosary beads
Juzu, a special kind of beaded Buddhist necklace or bracelet rosary, have been in use for about 2,500 years. Full-length juzu are made of 108 beads, each of which represents one incarnation of the Buddha. According to Buddhist belief there are 108 different human desires. By wearing and praying with juzu, Buddhists are able to rid themselves of worldly passions in order to become more benevolent and virtuous.
The design and style of juzu vary with the type of Buddhism one practices. Juzu for men effect a strong, powerful look, while female juzu are more elegant, making use of slightly smaller beads. The beads used to make juzu are fashioned from a number of different materials including nuts, precious woods (agarwood, lime, sandalwood, etc.), semi precious stones, crystal and agate.
Rin - Oriental Gong
Rin (or orin as a formal name), is another familiar Buddhist tool at Buddhist temples and homes. From small ones (about 10cm in diameter) for the household to huge (nearly 1 meter in diameter) for Buddhist temples, there are different sizes. Generally, a rin is made with brass or bronze and is put on a cushion (rin-dai) when it is used.
Rin are used as implements of prayer and worship in Japanese temples as well as with home altars called butsudan. The high quality rin offers a soothing tone and resonance. Normally, people ring the rin once with a wooden striker at the beginning and end of reading a Buddhist sutra, but many people, including non-Buddhists and non-Japanese, use the rin to soothe themselves in meditation.
Ko - Japanese Incense
The scent and smoke of incense play an important part in Buddhist rituals and refined Japanese life. Used in ceremonies, at home or in temples, the burning of incense serves to purify, acts as a strong form of spiritual offering. Incense appreciation (Ko-do) is also an art form like flower arrangement and the tea ceremony.
The scent of finer Japanese incense continues to linger in a room long after it has burned away. A recommended place to visit for a wide variety of quality Japanese incense is Shoyeido. Since opening in 1705, Shoyeido has been engaged entirely in making incense for 12 generations with its highly developed techniques and sharpened senses to produce the finest incense.