For a beginner who wishes to collect Dzi, it is just not the collecting of another type of gemstone or crystal or others.

Dzi has its strong Tibetan history. ( learn about its origin,legend and history in an earlier article).

It is equally important to note that Dzi bead is the Tibetans’ most Precious Living Gemstone.

Why is it so?

Over several thousand years, Dzi Beads have been absorbing the spiritual energy from Buddha’s land of mystique: Tibet, and have received blessings and devout worship. The strong magnetic energy, mysterious sensory force and a whole variety of motifs have endowed the millennia-old Dzi Beads with unique charms and superior aesthetic values.

The Tibetans believe that the beads are not produced artificially, but formed naturally as it is a treasure bestowed upon mankind from the gods. Thus, the Dzi Beads were being passed down generations after generations and have become the precious spiritual and material heritage for the Tibetans.

The Tibetans believe that only those with huge merit can own the ancient Dzi Beads. Its blessings for the wearer has to do with the individual’s level of enlightenment as things of the same kind attract. They believed that Dzi Beads are very spiritual treasures.

In view of the foregoing, the Dzi beads hold a very special meaning to the Tibetan’s lives:

• It is the treasure offered to the royal family generations after generations.

• Ancient pure Dzi beads can be used for mortgage purposes in Banks or the City’s Credit Bureau.

• In the past, Dzi bead is no different from cash. Because of their small size, they are easy to maintain and carried around, the royalty and the rich will exchange their domesticated animals, land and money for them. It is also not uncommon to see expensive goods being exchanged for Dzi beads.

• Dzi beads are essential ornament in a Tibetan lady’s adulthood and marriage ceremony.

• The quantity and quality of the Dzi beads can reveal the wealth of the family.

• Dzi Bead is also a precious medical ingredient in many Tibetan medical dictionaries.

• Dzi bead is the Tibetan’s most precious amulet. It is believed that devout worship of the Dzi Bead can remove hindrance of karma, receive blessings, prevention against stroke, guard against evil, improves vitality and increase wealth.

Dzi or Gzi(pronounced as “zee”) in Tibetan word means “good retribution, dignity and perfection”. The Dzi is a stunning contrasts of black and white (or dark brown) bead of etched or treated agate.

For thousands of years, Tibetans have viewed Dzi as a living gemstone. It is meant for devout worship and is reverently kept and passed down over generations.

The authentic “Pure Dzi” are found primarily in Tibet, and the “Chung Dzi” which is of lesser pure type of Dzi can be found in neighboring countries such as India and Nepal. The “pure” dZi beads are regarded as the most valuable and desirable variety. Etched agate beads not considered pure are called “Chung Dzi”, or “secondary, less important dZi.”

Dzi enjoys great popularity around the world, and it is a revered sacred charm for protection, worship, health, as well as a symbol of wealth.

Places of Origin and Legends Of Dzi:-

There are many stories pertaining to the place of origin and legend about Dzi which includes the following:

• The main places of origin are Western Tibet, Eastern Tibet, Bhutan, Sikkim, Ladakh and certain regions in the Himalayas. Dzi has been around for 2000 to 2500 years.

• Some believed that Dzi originated from a stream in Ngari; another believed that it was the treasure of the Azha Kingdom, Tibet; yet others thought it was one of the gemstones in the treasury of the Tagzig Kingdom.

• Some believed that Dzi is actually a “God’s treasure” which has descended to earth and was discovered by the Tibetans. Hence the Tibetans still regard Dzi as the “heavenly stone”.

• It is also said to be the celestial essence from Manjushri Bodhisattva’s previous incarnate (Manjushri Buddha) and some believed it was made by Asura;

• It is even said to be made from meteorites that plummeted down to earth.

• Some believed that the compassionate Vajravarahi Buddha let Dzi descended to earth to stop the spreading of epidemic because it possessed the power to guard against evil.

Historical Accounts Of Dzi Beads:

The earliest record of Dzi in China’s history is in the Tang Dynasty. When Princess Wencheng married Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo, the most expensive betrothal gift was a Buddha statue built according to the image of the 12 year old Jowo Sakyamuni. It was brought to Tibet all the way from Chang’an. The Buddha’s diadem, cape, decorative strap and robe were splendidly adorned with various pearls, agates, turquoises, corals and hundreds of various Dzi, including three Nine-eyed Dzi beads, Triple-eyed Dzi beads, Double-eyed Dzi beads, Tiger-tooth & Longevity Dzi beads and others. This Buddha statue is currently placed in Lhasa, Jokhang Monastery. Hence, we can see that Dzi beads have been used as offerings to Buddha; not only are they sacred, but they are also rare and precious.