Zitan Wood 108 Bead Mala

Dark beads, deep grain, and one that came out a shade redder than its neighbors.

This Zitan wood 108 bead mala is strung with zitan. Malas of 108 beads are widely used in Buddhist and Hindu practice to count recitations, with the number generally regarded as auspicious. Zitan, a dense red sandalwood, has long been prized in China for its weight, fine grain and deep color. The round beads are polished to a soft sheen, their surfaces flecked with fine orange-red grain against near-black. Each one is smooth and evenly sized.

Counting has rarely been this handsome.