{"product_id":"ancient-nine-stripe-chung-dzi-bead-pair-ac-062626-9schung2","title":"Pair of Ancient Nine Stripe Chung Dzi Beads, 19.8×14.7mm \u0026 20.6×15.1mm, agate (Ac-062626-9SChung2)","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\"\u003eThe ground on these beads is not dark — and that reversal changes everything about how the stripes read.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003eEvery other Chung dzi pair in this collection has a dark ground with lighter stripe lines running across it. This pair works the opposite way: the ground is grey to cream-white, and the stripe zones are deep charcoal-grey, so the dark reads as the marking within a pale field rather than the pale reading as lines on a dark body. The effect is quieter and more diffuse than a dark-ground Chung dzi — the contrast is still present, but the two tones are closer in value, and the result is a bead that announces itself slowly rather than immediately.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003eThe nine stripes run the full circumference of each bead, counted in the traditional alternating sequence: the first cream-white zone, then a charcoal-grey band, then the next cream-white zone, and so on from end to end. The stripe lines on both beads show the softening and surface integration that five or more centuries of age produces — not sharp ruled edges but bands that have settled into the stone, their boundaries slightly blurred by the same surface crazing that covers the cream zones throughout.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003eThat crazing is worth describing directly. Both beads show a network of fine surface cracklines running across the cream-white zones — a map of age-related surface movement in the agate, visible across every face photographed. The live listing notes these cracklines do not compromise structural integrity, and this is confirmed as my own independent finding from the photographs: the beads are structurally sound, and the cracklines are a surface phenomenon, not fractures through the body. On a 500–700 year old bead, this kind of surface crazing is expected and is itself a document of age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003eOne additional detail to disclose: one bead shows a chip or medicine dig at one end, visible in Image 5. This is a small localised surface removal at the end cap, not a crack, and does not affect the bead's structural integrity. It is disclosed here in full rather than described generically.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal\"\u003eImage 5 also shows the drilling ends of both beads. Bead A's end cap shows a large dark colour patch surrounding the drill hole — this is natural agate colouration making the hole harder to see, not a drilling anomaly or condition issue. Bead B's drill hole is clearly visible as a small clean opening at the centre of the end cap.\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 oldest forms in the entire dzi tradition, predating the eye motif beads and understood as the original dzi type. 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 cream-white and charcoal-grey bands running full circumference; stripe boundaries softened with age\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLength:\u003c\/strong\u003e 19.8mm (Bead A); 20.6mm (Bead B)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDiameter:\u003c\/strong\u003e 14.7mm (Bead A); 15.1mm (Bead B)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eForm:\u003c\/strong\u003e Compact oval pair; wider than tall relative to standard barrel dzi; matched pair\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/strong\u003e Agate — grey to cream-white dominant ground; deep charcoal-grey stripe zones\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAge Estimate:\u003c\/strong\u003e 500–700 years\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Surface crackline network present across cream zones on both beads — structurally sound, independently confirmed from photographs. Chip or medicine dig at one end cap disclosed (Image 5). Dark agate colouration at Bead A drill end — not a condition issue.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBloodspots:\u003c\/strong\u003e None\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct ID:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ac-062626-9SChung2\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\/ancient-dzi-beads\"\u003eAncient 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 antique nine-stripe Chung dzi pair in this collection, see \u003ca class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ancientdzishop.com\/products\/antique-nine-stripe-chung-dzi-bead-pair-at-062626-9schung\"\u003eAt-062626-9SChung\u003c\/a\u003e — deep black ground, cool grey-white stripes, elongated fusiform form, 300–500 years. Note the distinction: that pair has a dark ground; this pair has a cream-white ground. 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 class=\"underline underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ancientdzishop.com\/products\/ancient-seven-stripe-chung-dzi-warm-honey-brown-agate-ac-041320-7schung\"\u003eAc-041320-7SChung\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 Scratches\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 Cuosi Tianzu 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, five centuries — and a ground colour no other Chung dzi in this collection shares.\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 #ancientdzi #tibetanbead #tibetanjewelry #agatedzi #dzicollector #himalayanbeads #pairedbeads #jiutiaodzi #500yearsold #ancientagate\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ancient Dzi Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43972098228390,"sku":null,"price":1800.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0979\/7198\/files\/20211214_121849_5659ef28-67ca-49fd-a8c1-ae2078375e69.jpg?v=1788934840","url":"https:\/\/www.ancientdzishop.com\/zh-hant\/products\/ancient-nine-stripe-chung-dzi-bead-pair-ac-062626-9schung2","provider":"Ancient Dzi Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}