| What
is Nenju ? |
| Nenju is not necessarily
hand-held small object for funeral. It is also a protective charm against evil
spirits. |
 |
| What
is Juzu? |
| Originally Juzu
used to be a tool to count numbers and its name still remains up until today.
|
|
|
Can you repair Nenju? |
| Yes, but
in some case it would be wise and cheaper to purchase a new one rather than get
old one repaired. Obviously Nenju made of natural stone or linden tree are worth
repairing to make it last a life time. Normally it would take about a month to
repair yours after it reached us. |
|
|
Can a tassel colour be changed? |
|
Women can change colours according to their ages, but men can use a single brownish
colour for a life-time use. |
|
| Is
there any Nenju for an occasion of a celebration or sorrow ? |
|
Nothing in particular by the colour but for the wedding occasion (in front of
Buddhism )there is a Nenju Exchange ceremony and so Nenju for younger generation
would be better. |
|
| What
does the colour of the tassel mean? |
|
In Tokai District or Hokuriku District, white tassels with colourless beads are
used (Crystal or white coral) in funeral and for the Buddhist memorial service
coloured tassels (with coloured beads) are used. In other district there isnÕt
any rules in its use. |
|
| Is
the number of beads fixed in informal nenju? |
|
Formally it must be 108, but because of it size informal nenju do not have fixed
number of beads. |
|
| Is
nenju the necessary item for a bride to take with her? |
|
Ideally she should take the forma nenju of her family to which she is going to
be married. But in any sect (other than Nichiren sect) informal nenju is acceptable.
Make sure you take one with you. It is necessary when you pay your respect to
your husbandÕs ancestors. |
|
| Can
we buy nenju any time of the year? |
|
Yes, you can. Nenju also has a meaning of good luck, therefore you can buy it
and use it in your everyday life. |
|
| Is
there any common nenju for men & women? |
| No.
There is a difference in its beads size and colour. The beads diameter for menÕs
informal nenju is over 10 millimetres, and for women it is less than 8 millimetres.
Formal jenju also has two types for men and women. |
|
| Has
nenju got anything to do with one's age? |
| Yes,
womenÕs nenju particularly has. There are some colour differences among people
in their 20s - 30s, 40s - 50s, and over 50s. But recently natural tint like greyish
pink is popular and also colour which can be used from 20s and throughout life
is also available. Some young people with strong personality like somewhat a quiet
and conservative colour, and which is quite all right. White tassel has no age
limitation in its use and it can go with anyone regardless of oneÕs age. |
|
| I've
been told that you are not supposed to buy juzu for your own use. Is this true?
|
| In some parts of the country they
say that juzu is something that you get from someone-else as a gift, but in general
that is not the case. |
|
What is the formal nenju? |
|
It all depends on each sect. Each sect has its own formal nenju. Nichiren sect
in particular uses nenju with 108 beads and 5 tassels. Basically informal nenju
is not accepted. But all other sects accept informal one. Please have a look at
oury Formal nenju in our HP z. It all explains with photos. |
|
| Can
I use bracelet nenju for a funeral? |
|
For a funeral you need a proper nenju. Remember bracelet nenju is a good-luck
charm. |
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| Can
I give someone nenju as a gift? |
|
By all means. In celebration of wedding, a coming-of-age or as a keepsake from
your beloved one, all of these are quite acceptable. |
|
| How
do I take care of nenju? |
| Quality
nenju is sold in a box made of paulownia wood, so keep it in this box or in a
nenju pouch. Quality coral nenju is vulnerable to sweat so clean it with dry cloth
before putting it into a pouch. |
|
| Does
the tassel colour vary according to the sect? |
|
No, it doesnÕt. It all depends on your taste. But temples are all ranked by their
sect, therefore sometimes particular colour is decided. |
|
| Does
the tassel shape mean anything? |
| There
are several types : Bonten (round), Twist, String.....etc but they do not have
any particular meaning in them you can choose according to your taste. These days
twist is much favoured throughout Japan. |
|
| How
can I tell glass from crystal? |
|
It's very difficult. In general people say that crystal is cold and doesnÕt get
steamed up, but this is not the case. Same thing happens to crystal as it does
to glass. The big difference is the clarity. Let us see yours. We will give you
an expert opinion. |
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| Is
the nenju with lens quality goods? |
|
Some nenju have Buddha lens in the main balls and they will be found in souvenir
shops in tourist resort. We also produce them, but as a rule no lens is supposed
to be fitted in the quality goods. However, some quality nenju sold at some temples
do have lens attached to it. |
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| If the
string got snapped or beads got damaged or went beyond repair, what should I do? |
|
I got a feeling that I might incur divine punishment if I throw it away. Please
take them to a Shinto Shrine where people leave their old good-luck charm. They
will be disposed of after prayer. DonÕt throw it away thoughtlessly. |
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| Among
Zen sect nenju is a Kankin nenju. But some if it has metal in it, some donÕt.
Why? |
| Kankin
nenju is mainly used by temples, but some keen religious people use it as an amulet.
Sodo sect uses metal ring in it but Rinzai sect doesnÕt. There is nothing meaningful
in this difference but this helps tell Sodo sect from Rinzai sect. |
|
| I'd
like to know which bead means a talisman to keep off evil spirits, a protective
charm and a good-luck charm? |
It
has been said
(1) Linden trees would bring you ( infinite happiness )
(2)Crystal
would bring you ( billion times happiness) and
(3)Coral would bring you (
hundred times happiness ), and they are still the case even today. |
|
| How
do I take care of nenju (juzu)? |
|
There isnÕt any specific way of looking after your nenju. But high-quality, red
coral, lapis and malachite are vulnerable to sweat and their colour might be affected.
Please clean and polish them after use. Nenju of other quality should be kept
in a paulownia box or in a nenju pouch. |
|
I don't know the value of the nenju which is a keepsake from my parent. What can
I do? |
| Exhibition of the
products from Kyoto will be held in many department stores throughout Japan, and
Yasuda Nenju Ten is taking part in them. Come and visit us and we will have a
look at yours. You will see the details of the Kyoto exhibition on the separate
page. |
|
| I
am married to a man of different religious sect. It is said that Nichiren believers
must use their exclusive juzu but which juzu should I take when I come back to
my parents' home? Nichiren juzu or others'? And if I have Nichiren sect juzu can
I use it for other sect's occasion? |
|
I believe Nichiren sect believers had better use their exclusive nenju. Once you
get married you belong to your hausband's religious sect. If your husbandÕs religion
is not Nichiren sect you can't use Nichiren sect nenju. When you need nenju in
your parents' home you can use your husband nenju. You can always use your own
nenju at any funeral. You donÕt have to go along with others. |
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| Do
I get divine help from cheap nenju? |
|
Nenju with particular significance would be basically different from cheaper ones,
but the meaning of them is all the same. I donÕt think the price difference would
make any difference in getting divine help. But you are supposed to take a good
care of quality neju. |
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| I've
never seen nenju is used in Shinto. Don't they ever use nenju? |
|
No, nenju is not used in Shinto. But many Shinto people take nenju with them at
oneÕs funeral in order to be on good terms with their neighbours. |
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| I
am a man, but my hands are small. Can I use nenju for women? |
|
There is no particular problem I can think of. But menÕs nenju with smaller beads
can be made, so I would recommend men's version for you. |
|
|
It is hard for me to understand the words used in nenju. Would you make them easier
to understand? |
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| I
always carry a few bracelet nenju on me. Do you find this something strange? |
|
No, there is nothing wrong with this. I believe it is a good idea to carry bracelet
or nenju. It helps protect you from evil spirits. ¦ Can I take my students to
your place during our school visit to Kyoto? Yes, you can. Please apply through
E-mail. ¦ IÕve got two nenju. One is single and the other is double nenju, but
I donÕt know the difference. Single is informal for all sects and double is formal.
( Formal nenju has different types of tassel tie, and it depends on each sect.
See our HP on formal nenjiu.) Formal nenju is used at funeral in Tokai district
and informal nenju is used on the occasion of Buddhist service for the dead, but
donÕt be too particular about this formality. Double nenju is more polite. |
|
| Can
I take my students to your place during our school visit to Kyoto? |
| Can
I take my students to your place during our school visit to Kyoto? Yes, you can.
Please apply through E-mail. |
|
|
I've got two nenju. One is single and the other is double nenju, but I don't know
the difference. |
Single is informal for all sects and double is formal. ( Formal nenju has different
types of tassel tie, and it depends on each sect. See our HP on formal nenjiu.)
Formal nenju is used at funeral in Tokai district and informal nenju is used on
the occasion of Buddhist service for the dead, but donÕt be too particular about
this formality. Double nenju is more polite. |
|
