{"product_id":"antique-nine-stripe-chung-dzi-bead-pair-at-062626-9schung","title":"Pair of Antique Nine Stripe Chung Dzi Beads, 30.1×9.9mm \u0026 30.2×9.5mm, agate (At-062626-9SChung)","description":"\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e✦ All photographs are unretouched. ✦\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr class=\"border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003eThese two beads carry the same nine stripes and the same black ground — and they do not have the same shape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003eThe stripe count on a Chung dzi works differently from most people expect. The nine stripes are not nine white lines — they are nine alternating bands counted across the full sequence: the first white stripe, then a black zone, then the next white stripe, and so on, the pattern running the full length of each bead from end cap to end cap. On these two beads the stripes are cool grey-white, slightly textured and weathered at their edges in the way that distinguishes a genuine antique piece from a reproduction — not clean ruled lines but lines that have softened and shifted slightly with three to five centuries of use and handling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003eThe form difference between the two beads is visible and worth naming directly. Bead A (Images 2 and 4, the more tapered piece) has a pronounced asymmetric teardrop profile: one end comes to a sharper, more pointed taper while the other is rounder and more blunt. The overall silhouette is elongated and directional — it has a clear narrow end and a clear wide end. Bead B (Images 3 and 5) is more symmetrically bicone in profile, tapering toward both ends at a more even rate, with a wider central zone relative to its length. Images 6 and 7 show both beads together and make the shape difference immediately apparent: placed side by side, they read as two distinct forms despite sharing the same motif, the same ground colour, and nearly identical dimensions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003eThe ground on both beads is deep black, confirmed from white-background photographs across all six images. The surface on both is high gloss on the black zones, with the stripe lines carrying a finer, slightly more matte and granular texture consistent with the etching process and subsequent age. No cracks are visible on either bead. The live listing's \"no cracks\" claim is confirmed as my own independent finding from the photographs. Both drill holes are small and clean, visible at the tapered ends in Images 2–5.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Nine Stripe Chung Dzi Motif\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003eThe Chung dzi (瓊珠) is the striped dzi — one of the most fundamental forms in the entire dzi tradition, predating the eye motif beads and understood as the original dzi type. The stripes are counted as alternating light and dark bands across the full length of the bead, with the number of stripes carrying specific symbolic significance. Nine stripes place this pair at the upper range of the standard Chung dzi count, nine being among the most auspicious numbers in both Tibetan and Chinese symbolic tradition — associated with completion, the highest single digit, and the fullest expression of heaven's number. A nine-stripe Chung dzi is understood as a statement of complete and unbroken fortune: success running from one end of the bead to the other without interruption, as the stripes themselves do.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpec Block\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMotif:\u003c\/strong\u003e Nine Stripe Chung Dzi (九條瓊珠) — nine alternating grey-white and black bands running full length; stripe lines weathered and slightly textured at edges consistent with age\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLength:\u003c\/strong\u003e 30.1mm (Bead A); 30.2mm (Bead B)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiameter:\u003c\/strong\u003e 9.9mm (Bead A); 9.5mm (Bead B)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eForm:\u003c\/strong\u003e Elongated fusiform pair — Bead A pronounced asymmetric teardrop taper; Bead B more symmetric bicone profile; both high-gloss black ground\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/strong\u003e Agate — deep black ground; cool grey-white stripe lines\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAge Estimate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 300–500 years\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e No cracks visible on either bead — independently confirmed from photographs. Stripe line edges show age-consistent weathering and softening. Both drill holes clean.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBloodspots:\u003c\/strong\u003e None\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct ID:\u003c\/strong\u003e At-062626-9SChung\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCollection:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003ca class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ancientdzishop.com\/collections\/antique-dzi-beads\"\u003eAntique Dzi\u003c\/a\u003e | \u003ca class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ancientdzishop.com\/collections\/pairs-sets\"\u003ePairs \u0026amp; Sets\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr class=\"border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003eFor the single-stripe Chung dzi in this collection, see \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ancientdzishop.com\/products\/antique-single-stripe-bow-shaped-chung-dzi-at-061526-1sbow\"\u003eAntique Single Stripe Chung Dzi\u003c\/a\u003e. For ancient seven-stripe Chung dzi, see \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ancientdzishop.com\/products\/ancient-seven-stripe-chung-dzi-agate-near-pitch-black-ac-081020-7schung\"\u003eAncient Seven Stripe Chung Dzi Agate Near Pitch Black\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ancientdzishop.com\/products\/ancient-seven-stripe-chung-dzi-warm-honey-brown-agate-ac-041320-7schung\"\u003eAncient Seven Stripe Chung Dzi Warm Honey Brown Agate\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ancientdzishop.com\/products\/ancient-seven-stripe-chung-dzi-dark-brown-agate-scratches-ac-080620-7schung\"\u003eAncient Seven Stripe Chung Dzi Dark Brown Agate\u003c\/a\u003e. For the antique seven-stripe, see \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ancientdzishop.com\/products\/antique-seven-stripe-chung-dzi-honey-brown-agate-at-061920-7schung\"\u003eAntique Seven Stripe Chung Dzi Honey Brown Agate\u003c\/a\u003e. For the five-stripe ancient Cho Dzi, see \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ancientdzishop.com\/products\/ancient-five-stripe-cho-dzi-cuosi-tianzu-pale-cream-ac-061426-5schung\"\u003eAncient Five Stripe Cho Dzi Pale Cream\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ancientdzishop.com\/blogs\/news\/what-are-dzi-beads\"\u003eWhat Are Dzi Beads? History, Meaning \u0026amp; Authentication\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ancientdzishop.com\/blogs\/understanding-buddhism\"\u003eThe Meaning of Dzi Bead Motifs\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003eNine stripes, two beads, one motif — and not one line stops before it reaches the end.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e✦ All photographs are unretouched. ✦\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePhotos:\u003c\/strong\u003e Unretouched product images. All photos taken by Ancient Dzi Shop.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003e#ancientdzishop #dzibead #chungdzi #stripeddzi #ninestripedzi #antiquedzi #tibetanbead #tibetanjewelry #agatedzi #dzicollector #himalayanbeads #pairedbeads #jiutiaodzi #protectivebead #successbead\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ancient Dzi Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43973000921254,"sku":"","price":1500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0979\/7198\/files\/20220614_012858_c410290f-681d-4ce1-a4ab-91f02bb5637d.jpg?v=1782412001","url":"https:\/\/www.ancientdzishop.com\/products\/antique-nine-stripe-chung-dzi-bead-pair-at-062626-9schung","provider":"Ancient Dzi Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}