A Buddhist in Jin 'an wrote the Tantric Collection, which said: "Amber beads are used to repair the increase method, crystal beads are used to repair the rest, coral beads are used to repair the length method, human skull beads are used to repair the punishment method, and Bodhi beads are used to repair the Guanyin method. All methods can be repaired with Cheng-yan Bodhi beads."
In Buddhist scriptures, the seven treasures translated by different scriptures are different. The Amitabha Sutra translated by Kumarajiva says that the seven treasures are gold, silver, colored glass, coral, red beads and agate. The seven treasures mentioned in Xuanzang's translation of Ode to Pure Land are gold, silver, dog skin glass, pretty jade, Muroti Gerapo, lohitamuktika and Ashima Gerapo. The seven treasures mentioned in the Prajna Sutra are gold, silver, coloured glaze, coral, amber, tortoise shell and agate; The seven treasures mentioned by Hokkekyo are gold, silver, coloured glaze, dragonfly, agate, pearl and rose.
1/2, gold and silver
There are "seven treasures" in the Buddhist paradise where Amitabha comes to live in pure land. The first treasure is gold and silver. Gold represents a kind of health. Many bodhisattvas who come home want to cast a golden body, which means "golden body protects against all diseases" and represents the meaning of health and longevity. Silver also represents health and longevity, silver represents the light of Buddha, and newborn children wear silver ornaments.
Golden body
The appearance of gold ornaments was slightly later than that of bronze ornaments, in the middle and late Neolithic period three or four thousand years ago. Gold is stable in nature, mostly exists in a free state and is easy to obtain. Because of its beautiful appearance, good machinability and strong ductility, gold was designated as the first choice metal for decorative products as soon as it appeared. At this point, China and foreign countries are the same.
During the archaeological excavations in China, gold foil was unearthed in Yin Ruins, and gold ornaments with true phoenix patterns were unearthed in Shang Dynasty. During the Spring and Autumn Period, Warring States Period and Han Dynasty, gold wares prevailed. At this time, it is mostly owned by royalty and princes, which is difficult for ordinary people to see. It was not until the Sui and Tang Dynasties that folk gold ornaments really became popular.
Silver does not exist in a free state in nature, but in the form of compounds, and the technical requirements for extraction are complicated, so it appears later than gold ornaments. The earliest silver ornaments we can see are about bronze weapons with wrong gold and silver in the Spring and Autumn Period. In fact, this is not a real silver ornament. The vessels made of silver should have started in the Warring States period. However, because the storage of silver in nature is greater than that of gold, once its refining technology is mastered, silverware will be very popular, and because of its price advantage, the number of folk silverware far exceeds that of gold. This is why we can see more ancient silverware.
K gold: "K" is a kind of gold ornament marked with 18K platinum or 18KWG, which is used to express the purity (i.e. gold content) of gold internationally. It is a white alloy with 25% palladium or nickel added to gold, which makes it have different colors. Rose gold on the market is a kind of K gold, with a gold content of G750%. Many K-gold jewelry is marked with ". Platinum: Platinum is also called platinum, and its English name is platinum, which is generally coded by its abbreviation PT. Platinum is resistant to corrosion and oxidation by strong acid and alkali, and its chemical properties are more stable than that of K platinum. Platinum ornaments are marked with "PT" logo and color. For example, "PT900" refers to the platinum products of jewelry, with platinum content of 90%; "PT950" refers to the platinum products of this jewelry, with a platinum content of 95%. Marquette: In order to cover up the easy discoloration of silver, another method is to directly sulfide silver so that it will no longer turn yellow and black. Sulfurized silver presents a quaint effect. This method originated in Thailand and is also called "Makasit". 925 silver: 925 silver is the international standard silver for silver jewelry. In fact, the silver content of 925 silver jewelry is not 100%, because 7.5% alloy is added to pure silver, which improves the luster, brightness and hardness of silver. Tibetan silver: Tibetan silver was originally a commercial term. At first, merchants called it white copper or white copper mixed with a small amount of silver, but times have changed. Businessmen also call those alloy products such as tin and aluminum with extremely low prices Tibetan silver or earth silver. It will turn black after a long time, and it will not shine with silver cloth.
3. Amber
Amber: Amber is a fossil of turpentine 40 million years ago, and it is also called the three organic gems with pearls and corals. Only 40 million years ago, turpentine fossils were hard enough to be inlaid into jewelry. There are three schools in Buddhism: abstinence, stability and wisdom. Only when people get rid of the troubles in the world can they improve their concentration. With a certain concentration, they will have a quiet heart-like peace. When people settle down to a certain degree, they will have the ability to judge right and wrong and the way to deal with problems.
Amber is a valuable medicinal material. It is recorded in Li Shizhen's Compendium of Materia Medica that amber can calm the mind and soothe the nerves, calm the five internal organs, and clear the heart and soothe the nerves. Corresponding to Buddhism's "precept, determination and wisdom", practicing with amber can help people to produce determination, which is a blessing for practitioners in Buddhism. Both Buddha and Bodhisattva help people get rid of disasters, and amber is also a gift from Buddha to help people get rid of mental and physical pain. Amber is a gem cultivated for millions of years. Taking amber as one of the seven treasures of Buddhism is also to show that it takes a long time to practice and stand the test before you can gradually realize it.
source
40 million years ago, there were large forests in northern Europe. At that time, the climate was warm and there were no humans. Today's ancestors of pine and fir trees drop resin. Those virgin forests were buried by silt deposits, so the resin has been preserved to this day. Many large areas in northern Europe have become the seabed, which is why amber is mostly produced on the Baltic coast.
value
It varies in size and quality. For jewelry, amber from the Baltic Sea and Dominica is the most precious. The largest amber producing area in the world is Yangtaniyi. This is an open-pit mining area near Kaliningrad, located on Russian territory between Poland and Lithuania in the Baltic Sea. 80% to 90% of the world's annual amber production comes from this.
Health: According to Li Shizhen's Compendium of Materia Medica in Ming Dynasty, amber can soothe the five internal organs, calm the mind, stop bleeding, remove blood stasis and detoxify. Different colors of amber have different effects. Red-brown is used to treat the heart and kidneys. Gold can cure liver disease, and Lanpo can delay aging. Every piece of amber has a Buddha's heart, which makes all beings pray for peace. Meditation: Buddhist practice of "abstinence, steadiness and wisdom" is based on "abstinence and wisdom are born from steadiness". Amber helps practice.
When a person's mind is settled and his wisdom is increased, a meditative state of mind is born. Vows: The contents of amber will remain unchanged for ten thousand years, and the Buddha vows the great wishes of all beings. It means that the oath will never change and is a symbol of eternity. Good men and women pray with amber and have good luck all their lives.
Beeswax is a kind of amber, which is no different from amber in physical composition and chemical composition, but it is named because of its "color like honey and light like wax". Beeswax is very popular because of its soft texture and warm color. Amber is a natural resin fossil, which was secreted by conifers 40 million to 60 million years ago. It was buried deep in the ground after the crustal changes and gradually evolved. Amber can be divided into transparent amber and opaque amber according to transparency. Opaque amber, which is like honey in color and has the same luster and texture as wax, is traditionally called "beeswax".
The beeswax is delicate in color, warm in texture and feels extremely friendly. It has always been a competition between dignitaries to collect treasures for fun. Not only that, amber is also one of the raw materials for the beads worn by officials in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Amber with transparent color and uniform size is the main material, with coral and so on. Today, it has a very high collection value. In the official dynasty, amber was used according to the official specifications, so it is conceivable that amber is precious, rare and valuable. Amber has been regarded as a precious wealth since ancient times. Chinese medicine believes that amber can soothe the nerves and help sleep. Amber is listed as one of the seven treasures in Buddhism, which is auspicious for Buddhists. Amber is very popular as an ornament abroad. Whether in the East or in the West, amber is loved by people for its warm color and simple and elegant appearance.
Since ancient times, beeswax has been deeply loved by royal families, nobles, collectors and people all over the world. It is not only used as jewelry such as hand ornaments and neck ornaments, but also praised and respected unanimously because of its mysterious power. It is an ornament used by the royal family in past dynasties, and it is also a sacred blessing of religion, which makes the wearer and collector get incomparable luck and wealth. Beeswax has set off a global collection boom in this century, and its value has been rising. The texture and colorful charm of beeswax are comparable to diamonds and jadeite. Its mysterious power and spirituality are not available in other jewelry, and it can be described as the most beautiful and precious jewelry.
meaning
1. In ancient China, amber was called "the soul of the beast", "the pearl of light" and "the pearl of red" and was regarded as an auspicious thing. Newborns can take refuge from disasters and live a safe life. Newcomers wear it to keep their youth forever, and couples can live a harmonious and happy life.
Amber is a traditional gem of Europeans. Europeans are as obsessed with amber as China is with jade. It is an indispensable precious jewelry when getting married, and it is also a token given by lovers to each other, which can protect love from fading.
4. transparent
Crystal is a rare mineral, a kind of gem, and a kind of timely crystal, which belongs to the timely family in mineralogy. Its main chemical composition is silicon dioxide, and its chemical formula is SiO2. When it is pure, it forms colorless and transparent crystals, and when it contains trace elements such as aluminum and iron, it is purple, yellow and brown. After irradiation, trace elements form different types of color centers and produce different colors, such as purple, yellow, brown and pink. Inclusion crystals containing associated inclusion minerals, such as frosted crystals and green ghosts, include rutile, tourmaline, actinolite, mica and chlorite.
Crystal is a timely crystal mineral. Its main chemical composition is silicon dioxide, and its chemical formula is SiO2. Western countries think that everything that is transparent is crystal, so the word crystal includes colorless transparent glass (K9, ordinary glass is blue) and rock crystal ore. The ancient crystal names in China include water mirror, aquamarine, aquamarine, crystal, etc., which were purified at the "Hehan Sancai Conference". Therefore, in order to facilitate the distinction, Rockcrystal is usually referred to as (rock crystal) in the world. The well-developed single crystal is a hexagonal cone, so it is usually a block or granular aggregate, which is generally colorless, gray and milky white. When it contains other mineral elements, it is purplish red, smoky red, brown and so on.
When it comes to crystal, people will naturally think of its energy. The energy of crystal can purify people's body and mind. For those who worship Buddha, crystal is really an ideal instrument to cultivate one's morality and cultivate one's mind. Let's briefly introduce crystals and Buddhism. Buddhism has an indissoluble bond with crystal. There are three treasures in Buddhism: Buddha, Dharma and Monk. Buddhism has seven treasures: gold, silver, amber, coral, dragonfly, coloured glaze and agate. Although different Buddhist scriptures have slightly different records of the seven treasures of Buddhism, the crystal is always in it. Buddha said, "If you get three treasures, you will be happy, and if you get seven treasures, you will be safe." At the same time, Buddhism has ten dharma circles. The ten dharma realms of "hell, hungry ghost, beast, shura, earth and heaven" actually refer to six personality deviations of human beings, and "hearing, feeling, bodhisattva and Buddha" are four progressive life realms with positive energy. Deviation can be related to the "seven wheels" of the human body (undersea wheel, reproductive wheel, sun gear, heart wheel, throat wheel, eyebrow wheel and crown wheel) through the mysterious forces of crystal, such as piezoelectricity, 8 million oscillations and focusing refraction per second, data storage, information transmission, energy conversion and energy expansion. Accordingly, it can be adjusted by balancing the body's endocrine and strengthening the activity of brain cells, and a positive life realm can also help the pursuer through the natural energy of crystal.
crystal
The growth environment of crystal stone is mostly buried underground and in caves, which requires abundant groundwater resources, including saturated silica. At the same time, the pressure is about two to three times that of atmospheric pressure, and the temperature is between 550 and 600℃. After they grow underground for more than 80 million years, the crystals will crystallize into hexagonal columnar crystals according to the natural law of "hexagonal crystal system". There are many grains without disorder, all crystal tips point to the center of the hole, and the growth is regular.
In the ideal environment of artificial control, that is, when the physical and chemical conditions meet the above conditions, the crystal growth rate is about 0.8 mm per day, which is also the standard production speed of many artificial crystals in laboratories and factories. The crystal cultivated in this way is called "artificial Shi Ying", and some people call it "cultivating Shi Ying". Artificial crystals are usually cut into chips and used in electronics, computers and communication industries. General industrial intraocular lens, its thickness is about 3 cm, and it takes about 40 days to grow; It usually takes about 100 cm (100mm) for the jewelry industry to polish a crystal ball in the most ideal environment. In nature, the situation is not optimistic. Raw materials, water quality, temperature, pressure and other conditions are constantly changing, and it is difficult to achieve the ideal situation. It usually takes tens of thousands or millions of times to achieve the same growth. This is why "geological age" always takes "million years" as the unit, and it is also the precious place of "crystal stone".
Crystal producing area
Crystal is mainly produced in pegmatite veins or caves, and crystal minerals are produced almost all over the world. The famous producing areas are Minas and Gila in Brazil, Madagascar and Arkansas in the United States, Urals and Myanmar in Russia.
China is rich in crystal resources, with crystal production in more than 25 provinces. Jiangsu is the main producer of high-quality crystals in China, among which Donghai Crystal is the most famous, and it is called "Crystal Capital of China". In addition, Hainan, Sichuan and Xinjiang are also the producing areas of high-quality crystals.
4. clumsy
Trionyx sinensis is the largest shellfish in the deep sea, with a body length of about 2m, a thick shell, a white and smooth inner shell and a yellowish brown outer shell. Cutting and grinding the essence at its tail end can be used as beads and decorative gems. Trionyx sinensis is the largest bivalve, with a maximum shell length of 1.8m and a weight of 500kg. Shells can be used as a bath basin for babies. Hard shells can be used to make all kinds of utensils, and meat can be eaten.
In traditional Chinese medicine, the tail of soft-shelled turtle was once considered to have the same curative effect as pearl, because its trace elements, chitin and amino acids have the functions of health care, promoting body metabolism, anti-aging and preventing osteoporosis, and grinding or powder is often something people like.
In Buddhism, the so-called tortoise shell refers to dark blue or purple ore or jade, which represents a kind of treasure in stone, and is not an object to kill and shell for rosary or to support Buddha and Bodhisattva. Tuotuo is deeply loved by many masters and believers. Colorful hand beads can not only be used for decoration, but also be worn on the body to ward off evil spirits and keep safe. Masters often wear and recite spells with more than 27 beads to 108 beads.
5. Red beads (coral color)
That is, lohitamuktika, what you see is generally red coral beads. "Great Wisdom" (Volume 10) says:' True pearls are born in the belly of fish, bamboo and snake brain.' There is a cloud in the Buddhist Sutra:' The name of the red worm is lohitamuktika, or the pearl is red, and it is called lohitamuktika.' True pearls are generally thin and gray, and red pearls refer to pearls with reddish color. Pure red pearls are extremely rare. Red coral beads are usually used instead of red beads.
Coral is the shell secreted by coral polyps. The chemical composition of coral is mainly CaCO3 (calcium carbonate), which exists in the form of microcrystalline calcite aggregate. There is also a certain amount of organic matter in the composition, mostly dendritic, with longitudinal stripes on it. There are concentric circles and radial stripes on the cross section of each single coral, and the color is often white, with a small amount of blue and black. Coral is not only like branches, but also bright and beautiful in color, which can be used as decorations and has high medicinal value.
6.agate
Agate is in the east and is known as one of the seven treasures of Buddhism. According to records, agate is called "agate" because its original stone shape is similar to that of horse brain. There are records of agate deeds in both the Old Testament and Buddhist classics. Agate is regarded as a gem or handicraft because of its rich color and aesthetic feeling.
Formation process
Agate has a very long history. About 1 100 million years ago, due to crustal changes, underground magma erupted in large quantities. When lava cools, steam and other gases form bubbles. When the rock freezes, the bubbles are sealed and many holes are formed. After a long time, the pores were immersed in a solution containing silica and condensed into silica gel. Fusible components of iron-bearing rocks enter silica gel, and finally silica crystallizes into agate.
Place of production
The world-famous agate producing areas are: India, Brazil, Madagascar, China, USA, Egypt, Australia, Mexico and other countries. Mexico, the United States and Namibia also produce agate with lace stripes, which is called "lace agate". Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming and Montana in the United States also produce "landscape agate". Agate producing areas in China are also widely distributed, almost in all provinces. Famous producing areas are Yunnan, Heilongjiang, Liaoning, Hebei, Xinjiang, Ningxia and Inner Mongolia.
According to agate legend, Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, is sleeping in the shade of a tree. Her son eros secretly cut off her shining nails and flew into the sky with them in his hand. Eros, who flew into the air, accidentally dropped her nails, and the nails that fell to the ground turned into stones, that is, agates. Therefore, some people think that owning agate can strengthen love and adjust the feelings between themselves and their lovers. In Japanese mythology, there is a crescent-shaped green agate, which is one of the three great artifacts in Japan and is dedicated to the gods.
There is also "agate, ghost blood" in Taiping Guangji. It adds a bit of strangeness to agate. Therefore, agate has been regarded as a symbol of beauty, happiness, auspiciousness and wealth since ancient times. Because of its magnificent, hard and rare three characteristics, it won the title of "jade".
South red agate is a kind of agate, which was called "Ruby" in ancient times. It is a unique variety in China, with delicate texture and oily. Due to the scarcity of production, the price of old south red agate has risen sharply. South red agate was once used as medicine by the ancients to nourish the heart and replenish blood.
South red agate, Hetian jade and jadeite have formed a tripartite confrontation.
malachite
The English name Malachite comes from the Greek Mallache, which means "green". Malachite has such a beautiful name because its color is similar to the green spots on peacock feathers. In ancient China, malachite was called "green", "stone green" or "blue". Malachite is an ancient jade material.
Malachite has such a beautiful name because its color is similar to the green spots on peacock feathers. Malachite occurs in the oxidation zone of copper sulfide deposits and often coexists with other copper-bearing minerals (azurite, chalcopyrite, native copper, etc.). ). The world-famous producing areas are Zambia, Australia, Namibia, Russia, Zaire, the United States and other regions. China is mainly produced in Yangchun, Guangdong, Daye, Hubei and Northwest Jiangxi. Malachite, a fragile but beautiful stone, means "happy wife". Green is the most active and intense green. Green malachite, although not as shiny as jewelry, has a unique elegant temperament.
Species and evaluation of malachite. The varieties of malachite are common malachite, malachite gem, malachite opal and malachite. Malachite gem is a very rare malachite crystal. Malachite is used as ornamental stone and craft appreciation, which requires bright colors, pure and uniform colors, clear ribbons, dense blocks and no holes, and the bigger the better. Malachite opal needs a positive background color and a clear light band. Malachite can be used to carve chicken heart pendants, egg-shaped rings, necklaces and seal materials.
Maintenance of malachite. Malachite is not durable and has low hardness, so it can't keep good luster for a long time. Only used as beads and brooches. Russians use malachite as the interior decoration material of buildings, and the pillars of St. Isaac's Cathedral in Leningrad are inlaid with malachite. Malachite is also used to carve various worship objects and decorations, fireplace and desktop inlay.
turquoise
It is an ancient jade, which can be traced back to the Persian kingdom in the 3rd century, and it is also regarded as an important instrument by Buddhism prevailing in Asia. Most of the turquoise ornaments we see today are inlaid with silver, and their styles still retain the exotic customs of the Middle East and the mysterious colors of Tibetan Buddhism. The most famous turquoise producing area in the world is Iran. The turquoise in China is mainly produced at the junction of Hubei, Henan and Shaanxi, and the most famous is the bare slash pine mine. The tone of turquoise is mainly blue-green. High-grade turquoise, that is, turquoise for jewelry, requires sky blue standard and uniform color. Followed by dark blue, blue-green and light gray blue.
American Indians believe that turquoise is the spirit of the sea and blue sky, which will bring good luck to the expedition. It is considered as a stone of success and luck and a symbol of divine power. Many ethnic minorities in the world regard it as a gift from God.
When wearing turquoise jewelry, it is best to keep a distance from cosmetics, perfume and other items to avoid damaging the gem jewelry. Because turquoise is porous, we should pay attention to avoid using heavy liquid to measure density, because tribromomethane and diiodomethane will discolor turquoise. Turquoise is delicate in color and afraid of pollution. Contact with tea, soapy water, oil stain, rust and alcohol should be avoided to prevent it from changing color after infiltrating into the gem along the pores. Turquoise is afraid of high temperature, so it can't be baked directly and exposed to direct sunlight to avoid fading, cracking and drying. Turquoise is hard and brittle, so don't bump against other hard objects, and pay attention when wearing it.
Moonstone
Also known as moonstone and moonstone, the chemical formula (potassium aluminum silicate) is the most valuable gem with optical effect. Colorless or milky white, high-quality people are often translucent, with a light blue halo, like hazy moonlight, which is a gem of feldspar. In ancient times, people in many countries in the world thought that wearing moonstone could bring good luck, awaken lovers' tenderness, give people strength and look forward to a bright future. In modern times, many countries regard the moonstone as the "birthstone of June" together with pearls and metamorphic rocks, symbolizing health, wealth and longevity. The processing value of rough and poorly polished moonstone is greatly reduced. Pay attention to the best optical effect when wearing moonstone.
7.pearls
Pearl is formed by wrapping foreign bodies with colloidal calcium carbonate compounds secreted by pearl oyster. The big round ones are the most expensive, and they are usually made into bead necklaces.
Pearl and Hepu ecological pearl are organic gems and have been regarded as rare treasures since ancient times. According to the research of geology and archaeology, there were pearls on the earth 200 million years ago. China is one of the first countries to use pearls in the world. As early as more than 4,000 years ago, it was recorded in Shang Yu Shu Gong that mussels could produce pearls, and there were also records of pearls in The Book of Songs, The Classic of Mountains and Seas, Erya and Zhouyi. Pearls are divided into natural pearls and cultured pearls according to their causes. Natural pearls mainly refer to pearls naturally formed in shellfish and mussels. Traditionally, pearls are divided into three types: seawater pearls, freshwater pearls and artificial pearls. Freshwater pearls refer to pearls produced in rivers. China's natural freshwater pearls are mainly produced in lakes in the south of China, and Zhuji, Zhejiang is a famous pearl town. There are five kinds of pearls: white, red, yellow, black and variegated, and most of them are opaque. In ancient times, people called natural round pearls walking beads. Pearl, agate, crystal and jade are also known as the ancient traditional "Four Treasures of the Study" in China. Tang Wei's pearls are the most famous.
supplement
The seven treasures are also different in different versions of the same scripture translated in different historical periods. Take the Infinite Life Sutra as an example:
The seven treasures in the Chinese version are gold, silver, colored glaze, crystal, dragonfly (also called car song), coral and amber.
The seven treasures contained in the Three Kingdoms edition are purple gold, silver, coloured glaze, crystal, coral and amber.
The seven treasures of the Tang Dynasty are gold, silver, coloured glaze, pear, beautiful jade, red pearl and amber.
The seven treasures of the Song Dynasty are gold, silver, coloured glaze, pear, tortoise shell, pearl and amber.
The seven treasures mentioned in Xuanzang's translation of Ode to the Pure Land are gold, silver, coloured glaze, beautiful jade, Muroti Jiela, lohitamuktika and Ashima Jiela.
The seven treasures of Tibetan Buddhism are chalcedony, beeswax, canals, pearls, corals and gold and silver, which are collectively called "the seven treasures of the West". So there are more than ten kinds of things that can be used as seven treasures.
There are three treasures in Buddhism: Buddha, Dharma and Monk. Buddhism has seven treasures: gold, silver, amber, coral, dragonfly, coloured glaze, agate and chalcedony. Get three treasures and the country, get seven treasures and the people are safe.