Lapis lazuli. Vaidurya in Sanskrit. Originally
it meant lapis lazuli or emerald, but from the Six Dynasties period Chinese used
the term for glass beads similar in appearance. From the Ming dynasty ruri
indicated sansai 三彩 glaze or ruri glaze. In Buddhist scripture it appears
frequently as the blue jewel. It is always the third in the four jewels
(gold, silver, lapis lazuli, crystal) and in the seven jewels (gold,
silver, lapis lazuli, crystal, Tridacna gigas, coral, and agate) of Buddhism. |