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The Nests of Dzi

The dzi bead is one of the most mysterious of all the beads known to humanity today. Numerous attempts to trace back the bead’s origin yield fruitless despite many dzi beads having been passed down from generation to generation. The dzi exists seemingly in isolation, as if snapped from a chain, with no links to their past. It is unclear to many bead scholars the exact why, when and how the dzi was manufactured. The fact is that these tiny stone beads, patterned with mystical eyes, are one of the most treasured beads in the world today. The Tibetans believe the dzi beads are precious jewels with supernatural origin.

There are many myths and legends in Tibet describing the origin of the bead. The main belief is that the gods (lha) created them. Tibetans theorize a divine origin rendered to the dzi as a precious and powerful talisman. Most Tibetans will not let go of an authentic dzi because this may cause bad luck. In addition, the rarity of the bead makes them as valuable as diamonds in Tibet.

Tibetan myths state that the dzi were once insects that lived in a kind of nest call “dzi tshang”. When the insects were unearthed in these nests they continue to move for a while and eventually become petrified by the gaze of humans into the hardened form of dzi that exists today. Other legends state that the beads were the droppings of sky dragons.
Another legend states that there was a time when Tibet was overwhelmed by severe epidemic and the Tibetans were facing a very hard life. Fortunately, the compassionate Vajravarahi Buddha came to the rescue by releasing the magical dzi beads from the sky. The beads are believed to bring good luck, ward off evil, and protect the wearer from physical harm.
One of the stories describes the dzi being once worn by heavenly beings as ornaments during ancient times. When the dzi gradually blemished, these beings would throw the dzi to the earth. Therefore, no one can ever find the beads in perfect condition.

It is also believed that the dzi beads were made from meteorites which fell from outer space thousands of years ago. Supposedly the magnetic field of a dzi bead is three times stronger than normal crystals.

Another legend tells the story that after Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) built the first temple (Samye Monastery) in Tibet, he was blessed with dzi beads by the heavenly beings. Guru Rinpoche then buried the dzi beads all over Tibet, each with specific prayer, blessing or spiritual insight. Hundreds of year later, the Tibetan hero, Gesar of Ling, had defeated the Tagzig Kingdom and found maps that led him to discover rare treasures, including millions of dzi beads. Gesar brought the dzi back as the spoils of military conquest to reward his troops.
As a protective amulet, the dzi are sometimes ground up into a powder to be used in traditional Tibetan medicine. Beads subject to this process have small "dig marks" where a portion of the bead has been scraped or shaved away to be ground into the medicine.
Dzi beads can appear in different colours, shapes and sizes from browns to blacks with the pattern usually being in ivory white. The number of "eyes" on the stone is considered significant. "Eyes" are the circular dot or eye-like designs, and depending on their number and arrangement, they represent different things. Some dzi beads sport what are referred to as "blood spots" which can be seen as tiny red dots in the white areas, and these are indicative of cinnabar content. This is highly desirable, but more rare. Another desirable effect is something called "naga skin" which refers to tiny circular weathering marks on the surface of the bead, that simulates scales.
The word "waxy" is often used to describe dzi bead surface, which is the smoothing which occurs over a long period of time (presumably from wear), giving the bead a waxy appearance. Some dzi beads are simply polished agate and sport only the agate's natural patterning as decoration.
Dzi stones may have made their first appearance between 2000 BC to 1000 BC, in ancient regions in and around the Himalayas. Fear of the “evil eye” was taken very seriously by these people, so whoever made the dzi created talismans with “eyes” on them as a “fight fire with fire” form of protection. Dzi were crafted by an unknown people using agate as the base stone and then fabricated with lines and circles using unique ancient methods like darkening with plant sugars and heat as well as bleaching and white line etching with natron while certain parts were omitted by using either grease, clay, wax or similar - the actual ancient alchemic process can only be assumed. In this way the ancients created the patterns by first bleaching the agate and then darkening the patterns onto the bead. Subsequently the lighter pattern would be etched onto the bead. After this the hole would be drilled, which was arduous work with a bow drill during ancient times.
There are certain facts that speak for the heating/bleaching process having taken place at a high altitude or in some sort of ancient vacuum chamber; otherwise the smoothness and the absence of cracks in the agate cannot be explained. Since accurate knowledge of the bead is derived from several differing oral traditions, the beads have provoked controversy concerning their source, their method of manufacture and even their precise definition.
Market value for ancient beads can easily reach into hundreds of thousands of US Dollars - especially for beads with more "eyes". Tiny red cinnabar spots caused by iron inclusion in the agate also increase the value. Because of the high value placed on them, Tibetans will typically only part with an authentic pure Dzi bead under very extreme circumstances. These extreme circumstances may include, theft, confiscation by banks and government or even murder.
The images I have created are based on dzi beads but I have used what I call an “origamic tesselation” to recreate the “nests” from which the dzi may have originally been found.

The Nests of Dzi

The dzi bead is one of the most mysterious of all the beads known to humanity today. Numerous attempts to trace back the bead’s origin yield fruitless despite many dzi beads having been passed down from generation to generation. The dzi exists seemingly in isolation, as if snapped from a chain, with no links to their past. It is unclear to many bead scholars the exact why, when and how the dzi was manufactured. The fact is that these tiny stone beads, patterned with mystical eyes, are one of the most treasured beads in the world today. The Tibetans believe the dzi beads are precious jewels with supernatural origin.

There are many myths and legends in Tibet describing the origin of the bead. The main belief is that the gods (lha) created them. Tibetans theorize a divine origin rendered to the dzi as a precious and powerful talisman. Most Tibetans will not let go of an authentic dzi because this may cause bad luck. In addition, the rarity of the bead makes them as valuable as diamonds in Tibet.

Tibetan myths state that the dzi were once insects that lived in a kind of nest call “dzi tshang”. When the insects were unearthed in these nests they continue to move for a while and eventually become petrified by the gaze of humans into the hardened form of dzi that exists today. Other legends state that the beads were the droppings of sky dragons.
Another legend states that there was a time when Tibet was overwhelmed by severe epidemic and the Tibetans were facing a very hard life. Fortunately, the compassionate Vajravarahi Buddha came to the rescue by releasing the magical dzi beads from the sky. The beads are believed to bring good luck, ward off evil, and protect the wearer from physical harm.
One of the stories describes the dzi being once worn by heavenly beings as ornaments during ancient times. When the dzi gradually blemished, these beings would throw the dzi to the earth. Therefore, no one can ever find the beads in perfect condition.

It is also believed that the dzi beads were made from meteorites which fell from outer space thousands of years ago. Supposedly the magnetic field of a dzi bead is three times stronger than normal crystals.

Another legend tells the story that after Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) built the first temple (Samye Monastery) in Tibet, he was blessed with dzi beads by the heavenly beings. Guru Rinpoche then buried the dzi beads all over Tibet, each with specific prayer, blessing or spiritual insight. Hundreds of year later, the Tibetan hero, Gesar of Ling, had defeated the Tagzig Kingdom and found maps that led him to discover rare treasures, including millions of dzi beads. Gesar brought the dzi back as the spoils of military conquest to reward his troops.
As a protective amulet, the dzi are sometimes ground up into a powder to be used in traditional Tibetan medicine. Beads subject to this process have small "dig marks" where a portion of the bead has been scraped or shaved away to be ground into the medicine.
Dzi beads can appear in different colours, shapes and sizes from browns to blacks with the pattern usually being in ivory white. The number of "eyes" on the stone is considered significant. "Eyes" are the circular dot or eye-like designs, and depending on their number and arrangement, they represent different things. Some dzi beads sport what are referred to as "blood spots" which can be seen as tiny red dots in the white areas, and these are indicative of cinnabar content. This is highly desirable, but more rare. Another desirable effect is something called "naga skin" which refers to tiny circular weathering marks on the surface of the bead, that simulates scales.
The word "waxy" is often used to describe dzi bead surface, which is the smoothing which occurs over a long period of time (presumably from wear), giving the bead a waxy appearance. Some dzi beads are simply polished agate and sport only the agate's natural patterning as decoration.
Dzi stones may have made their first appearance between 2000 BC to 1000 BC, in ancient regions in and around the Himalayas. Fear of the “evil eye” was taken very seriously by these people, so whoever made the dzi created talismans with “eyes” on them as a “fight fire with fire” form of protection. Dzi were crafted by an unknown people using agate as the base stone and then fabricated with lines and circles using unique ancient methods like darkening with plant sugars and heat as well as bleaching and white line etching with natron while certain parts were omitted by using either grease, clay, wax or similar - the actual ancient alchemic process can only be assumed. In this way the ancients created the patterns by first bleaching the agate and then darkening the patterns onto the bead. Subsequently the lighter pattern would be etched onto the bead. After this the hole would be drilled, which was arduous work with a bow drill during ancient times.
There are certain facts that speak for the heating/bleaching process having taken place at a high altitude or in some sort of ancient vacuum chamber; otherwise the smoothness and the absence of cracks in the agate cannot be explained. Since accurate knowledge of the bead is derived from several differing oral traditions, the beads have provoked controversy concerning their source, their method of manufacture and even their precise definition.
Market value for ancient beads can easily reach into hundreds of thousands of US Dollars - especially for beads with more "eyes". Tiny red cinnabar spots caused by iron inclusion in the agate also increase the value. Because of the high value placed on them, Tibetans will typically only part with an authentic pure Dzi bead under very extreme circumstances. These extreme circumstances may include, theft, confiscation by banks and government or even murder.
The images I have created are based on dzi beads but I have used what I call an “origamic tesselation” to recreate the “nests” from which the dzi may have originally been found.

The Nests of Dzi

The dzi bead is one of the most mysterious of all the beads known to humanity today. Numerous attempts to trace back the bead’s origin yield fruitless despite many dzi beads having been passed down from generation to generation. The dzi exists seemingly in isolation, as if snapped from a chain, with no links to their past. It is unclear to many bead scholars the exact why, when and how the dzi was manufactured. The fact is that these tiny stone beads, patterned with mystical eyes, are one of the most treasured beads in the world today. The Tibetans believe the dzi beads are precious jewels with supernatural origin.

There are many myths and legends in Tibet describing the origin of the bead. The main belief is that the gods (lha) created them. Tibetans theorize a divine origin rendered to the dzi as a precious and powerful talisman. Most Tibetans will not let go of an authentic dzi because this may cause bad luck. In addition, the rarity of the bead makes them as valuable as diamonds in Tibet.

Tibetan myths state that the dzi were once insects that lived in a kind of nest call “dzi tshang”. When the insects were unearthed in these nests they continue to move for a while and eventually become petrified by the gaze of humans into the hardened form of dzi that exists today. Other legends state that the beads were the droppings of sky dragons.
Another legend states that there was a time when Tibet was overwhelmed by severe epidemic and the Tibetans were facing a very hard life. Fortunately, the compassionate Vajravarahi Buddha came to the rescue by releasing the magical dzi beads from the sky. The beads are believed to bring good luck, ward off evil, and protect the wearer from physical harm.
One of the stories describes the dzi being once worn by heavenly beings as ornaments during ancient times. When the dzi gradually blemished, these beings would throw the dzi to the earth. Therefore, no one can ever find the beads in perfect condition.

It is also believed that the dzi beads were made from meteorites which fell from outer space thousands of years ago. Supposedly the magnetic field of a dzi bead is three times stronger than normal crystals.

Another legend tells the story that after Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) built the first temple (Samye Monastery) in Tibet, he was blessed with dzi beads by the heavenly beings. Guru Rinpoche then buried the dzi beads all over Tibet, each with specific prayer, blessing or spiritual insight. Hundreds of year later, the Tibetan hero, Gesar of Ling, had defeated the Tagzig Kingdom and found maps that led him to discover rare treasures, including millions of dzi beads. Gesar brought the dzi back as the spoils of military conquest to reward his troops.
As a protective amulet, the dzi are sometimes ground up into a powder to be used in traditional Tibetan medicine. Beads subject to this process have small "dig marks" where a portion of the bead has been scraped or shaved away to be ground into the medicine.
Dzi beads can appear in different colours, shapes and sizes from browns to blacks with the pattern usually being in ivory white. The number of "eyes" on the stone is considered significant. "Eyes" are the circular dot or eye-like designs, and depending on their number and arrangement, they represent different things. Some dzi beads sport what are referred to as "blood spots" which can be seen as tiny red dots in the white areas, and these are indicative of cinnabar content. This is highly desirable, but more rare. Another desirable effect is something called "naga skin" which refers to tiny circular weathering marks on the surface of the bead, that simulates scales.
The word "waxy" is often used to describe dzi bead surface, which is the smoothing which occurs over a long period of time (presumably from wear), giving the bead a waxy appearance. Some dzi beads are simply polished agate and sport only the agate's natural patterning as decoration.
Dzi stones may have made their first appearance between 2000 BC to 1000 BC, in ancient regions in and around the Himalayas. Fear of the “evil eye” was taken very seriously by these people, so whoever made the dzi created talismans with “eyes” on them as a “fight fire with fire” form of protection. Dzi were crafted by an unknown people using agate as the base stone and then fabricated with lines and circles using unique ancient methods like darkening with plant sugars and heat as well as bleaching and white line etching with natron while certain parts were omitted by using either grease, clay, wax or similar - the actual ancient alchemic process can only be assumed. In this way the ancients created the patterns by first bleaching the agate and then darkening the patterns onto the bead. Subsequently the lighter pattern would be etched onto the bead. After this the hole would be drilled, which was arduous work with a bow drill during ancient times.
There are certain facts that speak for the heating/bleaching process having taken place at a high altitude or in some sort of ancient vacuum chamber; otherwise the smoothness and the absence of cracks in the agate cannot be explained. Since accurate knowledge of the bead is derived from several differing oral traditions, the beads have provoked controversy concerning their source, their method of manufacture and even their precise definition.
Market value for ancient beads can easily reach into hundreds of thousands of US Dollars - especially for beads with more "eyes". Tiny red cinnabar spots caused by iron inclusion in the agate also increase the value. Because of the high value placed on them, Tibetans will typically only part with an authentic pure Dzi bead under very extreme circumstances. These extreme circumstances may include, theft, confiscation by banks and government or even murder.
The images I have created are based on dzi beads but I have used what I call an “origamic tesselation” to recreate the “nests” from which the dzi may have originally been found.

The Nests of Dzi

The dzi bead is one of the most mysterious of all the beads known to humanity today. Numerous attempts to trace back the bead’s origin yield fruitless despite many dzi beads having been passed down from generation to generation. The dzi exists seemingly in isolation, as if snapped from a chain, with no links to their past. It is unclear to many bead scholars the exact why, when and how the dzi was manufactured. The fact is that these tiny stone beads, patterned with mystical eyes, are one of the most treasured beads in the world today. The Tibetans believe the dzi beads are precious jewels with supernatural origin.

There are many myths and legends in Tibet describing the origin of the bead. The main belief is that the gods (lha) created them. Tibetans theorize a divine origin rendered to the dzi as a precious and powerful talisman. Most Tibetans will not let go of an authentic dzi because this may cause bad luck. In addition, the rarity of the bead makes them as valuable as diamonds in Tibet.

Tibetan myths state that the dzi were once insects that lived in a kind of nest call “dzi tshang”. When the insects were unearthed in these nests they continue to move for a while and eventually become petrified by the gaze of humans into the hardened form of dzi that exists today. Other legends state that the beads were the droppings of sky dragons.
Another legend states that there was a time when Tibet was overwhelmed by severe epidemic and the Tibetans were facing a very hard life. Fortunately, the compassionate Vajravarahi Buddha came to the rescue by releasing the magical dzi beads from the sky. The beads are believed to bring good luck, ward off evil, and protect the wearer from physical harm.
One of the stories describes the dzi being once worn by heavenly beings as ornaments during ancient times. When the dzi gradually blemished, these beings would throw the dzi to the earth. Therefore, no one can ever find the beads in perfect condition.

It is also believed that the dzi beads were made from meteorites which fell from outer space thousands of years ago. Supposedly the magnetic field of a dzi bead is three times stronger than normal crystals.

Another legend tells the story that after Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) built the first temple (Samye Monastery) in Tibet, he was blessed with dzi beads by the heavenly beings. Guru Rinpoche then buried the dzi beads all over Tibet, each with specific prayer, blessing or spiritual insight. Hundreds of year later, the Tibetan hero, Gesar of Ling, had defeated the Tagzig Kingdom and found maps that led him to discover rare treasures, including millions of dzi beads. Gesar brought the dzi back as the spoils of military conquest to reward his troops.
As a protective amulet, the dzi are sometimes ground up into a powder to be used in traditional Tibetan medicine. Beads subject to this process have small "dig marks" where a portion of the bead has been scraped or shaved away to be ground into the medicine.
Dzi beads can appear in different colours, shapes and sizes from browns to blacks with the pattern usually being in ivory white. The number of "eyes" on the stone is considered significant. "Eyes" are the circular dot or eye-like designs, and depending on their number and arrangement, they represent different things. Some dzi beads sport what are referred to as "blood spots" which can be seen as tiny red dots in the white areas, and these are indicative of cinnabar content. This is highly desirable, but more rare. Another desirable effect is something called "naga skin" which refers to tiny circular weathering marks on the surface of the bead, that simulates scales.
The word "waxy" is often used to describe dzi bead surface, which is the smoothing which occurs over a long period of time (presumably from wear), giving the bead a waxy appearance. Some dzi beads are simply polished agate and sport only the agate's natural patterning as decoration.
Dzi stones may have made their first appearance between 2000 BC to 1000 BC, in ancient regions in and around the Himalayas. Fear of the “evil eye” was taken very seriously by these people, so whoever made the dzi created talismans with “eyes” on them as a “fight fire with fire” form of protection. Dzi were crafted by an unknown people using agate as the base stone and then fabricated with lines and circles using unique ancient methods like darkening with plant sugars and heat as well as bleaching and white line etching with natron while certain parts were omitted by using either grease, clay, wax or similar - the actual ancient alchemic process can only be assumed. In this way the ancients created the patterns by first bleaching the agate and then darkening the patterns onto the bead. Subsequently the lighter pattern would be etched onto the bead. After this the hole would be drilled, which was arduous work with a bow drill during ancient times.
There are certain facts that speak for the heating/bleaching process having taken place at a high altitude or in some sort of ancient vacuum chamber; otherwise the smoothness and the absence of cracks in the agate cannot be explained. Since accurate knowledge of the bead is derived from several differing oral traditions, the beads have provoked controversy concerning their source, their method of manufacture and even their precise definition.
Market value for ancient beads can easily reach into hundreds of thousands of US Dollars - especially for beads with more "eyes". Tiny red cinnabar spots caused by iron inclusion in the agate also increase the value. Because of the high value placed on them, Tibetans will typically only part with an authentic pure Dzi bead under very extreme circumstances. These extreme circumstances may include, theft, confiscation by banks and government or even murder.
The images I have created are based on dzi beads but I have used what I call an “origamic tesselation” to recreate the “nests” from which the dzi may have originally been found.

The Nests of Dzi

The dzi bead is one of the most mysterious of all the beads known to humanity today. Numerous attempts to trace back the bead’s origin yield fruitless despite many dzi beads having been passed down from generation to generation. The dzi exists seemingly in isolation, as if snapped from a chain, with no links to their past. It is unclear to many bead scholars the exact why, when and how the dzi was manufactured. The fact is that these tiny stone beads, patterned with mystical eyes, are one of the most treasured beads in the world today. The Tibetans believe the dzi beads are precious jewels with supernatural origin.

There are many myths and legends in Tibet describing the origin of the bead. The main belief is that the gods (lha) created them. Tibetans theorize a divine origin rendered to the dzi as a precious and powerful talisman. Most Tibetans will not let go of an authentic dzi because this may cause bad luck. In addition, the rarity of the bead makes them as valuable as diamonds in Tibet.

Tibetan myths state that the dzi were once insects that lived in a kind of nest call “dzi tshang”. When the insects were unearthed in these nests they continue to move for a while and eventually become petrified by the gaze of humans into the hardened form of dzi that exists today. Other legends state that the beads were the droppings of sky dragons.
Another legend states that there was a time when Tibet was overwhelmed by severe epidemic and the Tibetans were facing a very hard life. Fortunately, the compassionate Vajravarahi Buddha came to the rescue by releasing the magical dzi beads from the sky. The beads are believed to bring good luck, ward off evil, and protect the wearer from physical harm.
One of the stories describes the dzi being once worn by heavenly beings as ornaments during ancient times. When the dzi gradually blemished, these beings would throw the dzi to the earth. Therefore, no one can ever find the beads in perfect condition.

It is also believed that the dzi beads were made from meteorites which fell from outer space thousands of years ago. Supposedly the magnetic field of a dzi bead is three times stronger than normal crystals.

Another legend tells the story that after Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) built the first temple (Samye Monastery) in Tibet, he was blessed with dzi beads by the heavenly beings. Guru Rinpoche then buried the dzi beads all over Tibet, each with specific prayer, blessing or spiritual insight. Hundreds of year later, the Tibetan hero, Gesar of Ling, had defeated the Tagzig Kingdom and found maps that led him to discover rare treasures, including millions of dzi beads. Gesar brought the dzi back as the spoils of military conquest to reward his troops.
As a protective amulet, the dzi are sometimes ground up into a powder to be used in traditional Tibetan medicine. Beads subject to this process have small "dig marks" where a portion of the bead has been scraped or shaved away to be ground into the medicine.
Dzi beads can appear in different colours, shapes and sizes from browns to blacks with the pattern usually being in ivory white. The number of "eyes" on the stone is considered significant. "Eyes" are the circular dot or eye-like designs, and depending on their number and arrangement, they represent different things. Some dzi beads sport what are referred to as "blood spots" which can be seen as tiny red dots in the white areas, and these are indicative of cinnabar content. This is highly desirable, but more rare. Another desirable effect is something called "naga skin" which refers to tiny circular weathering marks on the surface of the bead, that simulates scales.
The word "waxy" is often used to describe dzi bead surface, which is the smoothing which occurs over a long period of time (presumably from wear), giving the bead a waxy appearance. Some dzi beads are simply polished agate and sport only the agate's natural patterning as decoration.
Dzi stones may have made their first appearance between 2000 BC to 1000 BC, in ancient regions in and around the Himalayas. Fear of the “evil eye” was taken very seriously by these people, so whoever made the dzi created talismans with “eyes” on them as a “fight fire with fire” form of protection. Dzi were crafted by an unknown people using agate as the base stone and then fabricated with lines and circles using unique ancient methods like darkening with plant sugars and heat as well as bleaching and white line etching with natron while certain parts were omitted by using either grease, clay, wax or similar - the actual ancient alchemic process can only be assumed. In this way the ancients created the patterns by first bleaching the agate and then darkening the patterns onto the bead. Subsequently the lighter pattern would be etched onto the bead. After this the hole would be drilled, which was arduous work with a bow drill during ancient times.
There are certain facts that speak for the heating/bleaching process having taken place at a high altitude or in some sort of ancient vacuum chamber; otherwise the smoothness and the absence of cracks in the agate cannot be explained. Since accurate knowledge of the bead is derived from several differing oral traditions, the beads have provoked controversy concerning their source, their method of manufacture and even their precise definition.
Market value for ancient beads can easily reach into hundreds of thousands of US Dollars - especially for beads with more "eyes". Tiny red cinnabar spots caused by iron inclusion in the agate also increase the value. Because of the high value placed on them, Tibetans will typically only part with an authentic pure Dzi bead under very extreme circumstances. These extreme circumstances may include, theft, confiscation by banks and government or even murder.
The images I have created are based on dzi beads but I have used what I call an “origamic tesselation” to recreate the “nests” from which the dzi may have originally been found.