This set of three Buddhist prayer or rosary beads (called "juzu" in Japanese) features beads of both glass and seeds. Each strand has three clear glass beads. One strand (AB 55-24 a) has a total of 19 seed beads, while AB 55-24 b has 17 and AB 55-24 c has 18. On each strand, the glass beads separate the seed beads into three groups, two of which have four beads and the other of which has 11, 9 and 10, respectively. The beads are strung on yellow rope. This kind of prayer beads may have been found in a family butsudan, or Buddhist altar.
Buddhist prayer beads are a traditional tool used to count the number of times a mantra is recited during meditation. They are similar to other forms of prayer beads used in various world religions; therefore they may also be referred to as the Buddhist rosary.
