In Buddhism, the Seven Treasures—also called the Seven Precious Substances—refer to seven kinds of sacred materials, or “seven jewels.”
The specific items included vary across different Buddhist scriptures. In Kumārajīva’s translation of the Amitabha Sutra, the seven treasures are gold, silver, lapis lazuli, coral, conch shell (tridacna), red pearl, and agate. In the Prajñā Sutras, they are listed as gold, silver, lapis lazuli, coral, amber, conch shell, and agate; while the Lotus Sutra describes them as gold, silver, lapis lazuli, conch shell, agate, pearl, and rose quartz.
Even within the same scripture, the composition of the seven treasures can differ over time. For example, in the Infinite Life Sutra, the Han Dynasty version lists gold, silver, lapis lazuli, crystal, conch shell, coral, and amber; the Cao Wei period records purple gold, white silver, lapis lazuli, crystal, conch shell, coral, and amber; the Tang Dynasty version names gold, silver, lapis lazuli, beryl, jade, red pearl, and amber; and the Song Dynasty version includes gold, silver, glass, beryl, conch shell, pearl, and amber.
In Tibetan Buddhism, the Seven Treasures are described as carnelian, beeswax, conch shell, pearl, coral, gold, and silver. Altogether, the sacred materials that may be called “the Seven Treasures” actually number more than a dozen.
Today, however, some of these materials are no longer suitable for use in ritual objects or jewelry. For example, tridacna shells and red coral are now strictly regulated in many countries, due to habitat destruction, ocean acidification, and overexploitation.
Fortunately, the absence of tridacna and red coral does not diminish the sanctity of the Seven Treasures.
In Chinese culture, the number seven has never been just a quantity. It carries a deeper philosophical meaning—symbolizing richness and diversity, as well as wholeness and perfection.
Our Seven Treasures Bracelet draws inspiration from this timeless idea. It is crafted from gold-plated silver, South Red agate, Hetian jade, beeswax (amber), chalcedony, lapis lazuli, South Red agate, enamel, turquoise, and sandalwood—materials chosen for both their beauty and their spiritual resonance.
Gold represents health and longevity, symbolizing “a golden body protected from all illness.” In Buddhism, gold is often used to adorn statues and temples, standing for wealth, purity, and divine nobility. Legend even claims that the magnificent Potala Palace in Tibet contains half of the world’s gold—a clear exaggeration, yet the palace’s brilliance still leaves every visitor in awe.
Silver represents auspiciousness. In Buddhist tradition, it is also associated with health, longevity, and the radiance of the Buddha’s light, believed to ward off misfortune and calamity.
Hetian jade calms the mind and nourishes the spirit. As the crystallization of Heaven and Earth’s energy, jade has long been treasured in Chinese culture as a stone of peace and balance, bringing clarity and serenity to the heart.
Beeswax (amber) is said to soothe the emotions. When worn close to the skin, it gently warms with body heat, releasing a faint natural fragrance that helps ease tension and restore calm.
Chalcedony strengthens willpower. It promotes emotional balance, empathy, and connection, helping one recover more quickly from challenges and dissolve self-doubt in times of difficulty.
Lapis lazuli enhances spiritual energy. It corresponds to the third-eye chakra of the human body, helping to heighten awareness and insight, allowing one to see through illusion and deception. Because it acts directly on this chakra, lapis lazuli is also believed to ease eye strain and dryness.
South Red agate symbolizes protection and strength. In Chinese culture, red is an auspicious color believed to dispel evil and attract good fortune. Our South Red agate bead is intricately carved in the form of a Pixiu, a mythical creature known as the dragon’s son. Said to feed on gold and silver yet never excrete, Pixiu represents the endless flow of wealth and prosperity.
Enamel banana leaf charm represents transformation. Enamelwork has long been used in Tibetan Buddhist ritual and offering objects, carrying profound symbolic meaning. In our Seven Treasures Bracelet, the banana leaf shape draws from Buddhist scripture, where the hollow nature of the leaf symbolizes impermanence and non-self—the understanding that all worldly things are transient and without fixed essence. As written in the Vimalakirti Sutra: “The body is like a banana tree—empty within, with nothing solid inside.”
Turquoise offers protection for the soul. Its vivid color, reminiscent of the sky and sea, embodies the vast energy of the cosmos. In Buddhism, turquoise is seen as a stone of awakening—dispelling illusion, guiding the lost, and warding off inner demons. For this reason, it is often called the “Stone of Clarity.”
Sandalwood represents giving. In Sanskrit, the word “tān” (檀) carries the meaning of generosity and offering. Its dense, aromatic wood purifies both body and mind, dispelling negativity and bringing tranquility. It reminds us that only through giving can we truly receive—just as the saying goes, “The fragrance always lingers on the hand that gives the rose.”
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