The Buddhist prayer beads, also known as "Nianzhu", "Fozhu", or "Shuzhu", are used to count the recitation of Buddha's name, mantras, or prayers during Buddhist practice. They serve as a tool for focusing the mind and counting repetitions. Prayer beads are one of the essential ritual objects for Buddhists and have become an integral part of the daily lives of practitioners. In Chinese Buddhism, prayer beads are primarily used to count the recitations of Buddha's name and symbolize merit, Buddha-nature, compassion, kindness, auspiciousness, completeness, and the heart of Buddha. Each bead, strung together by a thread, represents the various superior virtues of Bodhisattvas.
The use of prayer beads for counting recitations in China began during the Sui and Tang dynasties. Later, as Buddhism spread from China to neighboring countries, prayer beads became an important ritual object carried by both monks and laypeople in Mongolia, Japan, Korea, and other regions where Buddhism was prevalent, even becoming a symbol of Buddhist identity. High-ranking Dharma masters with deep understanding of Buddhist teachings recognize the convenience and significant merits of prayer beads as tools for spreading the Dharma. Therefore, they strongly advocate their use for three main reasons:
Firstly, they help concentrate the mind and eliminate distractions, aiding practitioners in gathering their thoughts, dispelling delusions, and focusing on their practice. Secondly, they serve a counting function, which is necessary in many actual Buddhist practices, such as reciting Buddha's name or chanting mantras. Thirdly, they act as objects of focus for specific practices, especially for those in the Vajrayana tradition, whose prayer beads often gain immense empowerment after rigorous retreats and can be used for healing or warding off misfortune.
Buddhist practitioners believe that using prayer beads with reverence while reciting Buddha's name can help remove delusional thoughts, purify the mind, and assist in recovering one's original pure and unattached true nature. The use of prayer beads serves as a constant reminder that one is a Buddhist practitioner and encourages continuous progress. Through counting, one realizes when fewer recitations are made and is reminded to strive harder; conversely, when more recitations are achieved, one feels joy and becomes even more diligent.
In recent times, many non-Buddhists also enjoy wearing prayer beads, mainly for secular purposes such as seeking good fortune, avoiding misfortune, or as a decorative accessory.