Material: Chicken Wing Wood Bracelet. Free Size

Size: 18 mm / 13 beads

Description:

1. **What is Chicken Wing Wood? (Composition and Origin)**

- **Scientific Name**: Chicken Wing Wood (Burretiodendron hsienmu or Ormosia spp., depending on the species), belonging to the Leguminosae or Caesalpinioideae families. It is mainly produced in Yunnan, Guangxi, and Hainan in China, as well as Southeast Asia (such as Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand).

- **Wood Characteristics**:

- The freshly cut heartwood is reddish-brown or dark brown, with alternating light and dark "chicken wing" patterns (resembling the feather patterns on a chicken's wing, hence the name).

- It has a hard, fine texture, is oily, resistant to corrosion, and has few insect infestations. It has a strong luster after polishing.

- It has a slightly fragrant aroma (some describe it as a faint sandalwood scent, but milder than real sandalwood). - **Raw Material for Buddhist Prayer Beads:** Buddhist prayer beads are mostly made from old wood (heartwood of older trees). The darker the color and the more distinct the grain, the more precious they are. Some are also made from African "chicken wing wood" (Millettia laurentii), with similar grain but belonging to a different tree species, and are less expensive.

2. **Use and Influence in Buddhism:** Chicken wing wood itself is not among the "Seven Treasures" prayer bead materials explicitly specified in Buddhist scriptures (gold, silver, lapis lazuli, agate, giant clam shell, amber, and coral). However, due to its characteristics, it has gradually become one of the common prayer bead materials used by lay Buddhists in Han and Tibetan Buddhism in modern times (especially since the Qing Dynasty).

**Main Influences and Symbolic Meanings:**

- **Durability and the Spirit of Upholding Precepts:** Chicken wing wood is hard and not easily worn, and is considered to symbolize the unbreakable nature of "precepts, concentration, and wisdom," representing a steadfast and persistent attitude towards spiritual practice.

- **Understated and Refined Aesthetics:** The black and red grain, calm and understated, aligns with the Buddhist spirit of "not adhering to ornate appearances." More rustic than sandalwood or Hainan rosewood, it is highly favored by practitioners of Zen and Pure Land Buddhism.

- **Folk Beliefs of Protection and Protection:** In traditional Chinese culture, chicken-wing wood is believed to have the power to "ward off evil spirits and protect the home." Many believe that wearing it can ward off malicious people and ensure peace. This aligns with the Buddhist concept of "blessing from Dharma protectors," becoming a source of psychological comfort.

- **Affordable Price:** Compared to expensive materials like small-leaf sandalwood and Bodhi seeds, high-quality old chicken-wing wood prayer beads are relatively affordable, allowing more ordinary lay practitioners to own decent prayer beads, indirectly promoting the habit of reciting the Buddha's name.

3. **Comparison with Other Wooden Prayer Beads:**

- Compared to Bodhi seeds: More understated, durable, and less prone to changes in appearance due to handling.

- Compared to small-leaf sandalwood: Slightly lower density and less oil content, but with more distinctive grain; price is usually only 1/3 to 1/10 of sandalwood.

- Compared to agarwood: Completely odorless, its appeal lies solely in its grain.

4. **Current Status (2025)**

Due to the depletion of Southeast Asian timber resources, genuine old-growth chicken wing wood (especially from Hainan and Myanmar) is becoming increasingly rare. The market is mostly dominated by new wood or African chicken wing wood. Many temples and lay Buddhists still consider it one of the "most cost-effective" wooden prayer beads, especially suitable for beginners or those who practice long-term Buddhist chanting.

In summary, while chicken wing wood prayer beads are not the most expensive material, their "hardness, durability, understated elegance, and distinctive features" have made them one of the most popular prayer beads in contemporary Chinese Buddhism, particularly representing a "simple, unpretentious, and persistent" approach to practice.