Obsidian Bracelet × Traditional Chinese Wisdom of "Mysterious Virtue and Stillness"

[Cultural Origin]

Obsidian, like ink-black jade with a condensed sheen, subtly corresponds to the profound state of "mystery upon mystery" from the Tao Te Ching. Its volcanic glass properties align with:

 • The dialectical philosophy of "Kun is extremely soft yet moves with strength" from the I Ching.

 • The health preservation wisdom of "the three months of winter, this is called closing and storing" from the Huangdi Neijing.

The Shuowen Jiezi explains:

"Mysterious, profound and distant."

Characteristics of this stone:

 • Its color is like "the void of the beginning" (Zhuangzi: Heaven and Earth).

 • Its luster resembles "a clear mirror with still water" (Zhuangzi: The Fulfillment of Virtue).

[Essence of the Five Elements]

 • Color: Water: Corresponding to the north, it signifies wisdom and storage.

 • Form: Reserved: The reserved luster of the beads aligns with the Book of Rites concept of "the gentleman is cautious when alone."

[Artisan Design]

1. Bead Inscriptions:

 ◦ Engraved with the seal script "attain the utmost in emptiness" (Chapter 16 of the Tao Te Ching).

 ◦ Special edition carved with the I Ching "Kun Hexagram" line text.

 ◦ Limited edition chiseled with "Xuanwu patterns" (one of the Four Symbols).

2. Accent Accessories:

 ◦ Pure silver "Kui dragon" clasp.

 ◦ Lapis lazuli "galaxy" spacer beads.

 ◦ Cinnabar follower beads (taking the imagery of "water and fire meet").

[Three Major Cultivation Scenarios]

 • Night Reading:

 ◦ Wearing it helps to enter the state of "the spirit wanders with things" from The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons.

 ◦ The obsidian magnetic field stabilizes the focus of "turning inward and listening within."

 • Warding Off Evil:

 ◦ Wearing on the left hand aligns with the ancient method of "wearing a mysterious talisman" from Baopuzi.

 ◦ Corresponding to the traditional Feng Shui wisdom of "using black to counteract negative energy."

 • Meditation:

 ◦ Placing it on the lower dantian corresponds to the "mysterious spring and hidden gate" from the Huangting Jing.

 ◦ Aiding the cultivation state of "returning to the root is called stillness."

[Symbolism for the Gentleman]

 • For Those in Politics:

"Mysterious virtue is profound and distant, in accordance with the Book of Documents 'deep and still, yet strong.'"

 • For Mind Cultivators:

"Purifying the mysterious mirror, obtaining the state of 'sitting in oblivion' from Zhuangzi."

 • For Warriors:

"Its blackness is like lacquer, corresponding to 'difficult to know like the dark' from The Art of War by Sun Tzu."