Talismansthe gallery← talismans.guru
Japan & Korea · c. 300 BCE – today

Magatama

Meaning

Magatama ('curved jewels') are comma-shaped beads of jade, jasper, agate or glass. Their meaning is debated (animal teeth, the soul, embryos, the moon), and they are sacred objects of Shinto.

Intent

They were worn as necklaces by elites and priestesses, and placed in tombs and at shrines as sacred and protective jewels. The Yasakani no Magatama is one of the three imperial regalia of Japan.

Significance

The magatama links modern Japan to its ancient past as part of the imperial regalia, and Korean gogok beads of the Silla kingdom show the same form, evidence of close contact.

History

Magatama appear in the Jōmon period (c. 1000 BCE) from animal-tooth ornaments, flourish in the Kofun period (3rd–7th century CE) in jade and jasper, and remain Shinto objects today.

Making yours
2–5 cm C-shaped bead with a hole in the head. Grind jadeite, jasper or glass, or use pâte de verre.
Japan & Korea: the tradition

Japanese protective objects are issued by Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples: omamori, ofuda and ema, each for a named purpose and renewed each year, with old ones returned for ritual burning. Engimono (luck objects) such as maneki-neko and daruma dolls grew out of Edo-period popular culture. Ancient magatama link the modern imperial regalia to the Jōmon and Kofun eras. Korea's shamanic tradition produced bujeok paper talismans, and the norigae pendant turned protective charms into women's court jewellery.

See all 41, save the ones that feel rightAsk about having one made
MagatamaMagatamaCharm (magatama), carved stone, Japan, Kofun period, 400-500Charm (magatama), carved stone, Japan, Kofun period, 400-500Talc Magatama SannaiMaruyamaTalc Magatama SannaiMaruyamaNecklace with Claw-Shaped Beads (Magatama)Necklace with Claw-Shaped Beads (Magatama)ca. 7th centuryNecklace with Claw-Shaped Beads (Magatama) ca. 7th centuryNecklace with Claw-Shaped Beads (Magatama) ca. 7th centuryca. 7th centuryComma-shaped Jade IMG 20160930Comma-shaped Jade IMG 20160930Le Tour du monde (périodique) – VolumeLe Tour du monde (périodique) – VolumeMagatamasMagatamasTalc Magatama SannaiMaruyama IIMG 8978Talc Magatama SannaiMaruyama IIMG 8978猫作・栗山16号墳 北側石枕出土品猫作・栗山16号墳 北側石枕出土品鹿島沢古墳 出土品鹿島沢古墳 出土品ヘボソ塚出土銅鏡他ヘボソ塚出土銅鏡他長福寺裏山古墳群 七つ塚1号墳出土品長福寺裏山古墳群 七つ塚1号墳出土品Emblem of Saitama PrefectureEmblem of Saitama PrefectureGiappone, periodo jomon, magatama in giada con potere propiziatorio, 300 ac-300 dc ca. (coll. privata)Giappone, periodo jomon, magatama in giada con potere propiziatorio, 300 ac-300 dc ca. (coll. privata)Ishikushiro, magatama, kiriko, kudatama. Kofun. Musée GuimetIshikushiro, magatama, kiriko, kudatama. Kofun. Musée GuimetKofun Era Artifacts (29979496691)Kofun Era Artifacts (29979496691)Magatama ModernMagatama ModernOrnaments (Copy) (29435635293)Ornaments (Copy) (29435635293)Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America MagatamaTsubaki Grand Shrine of America Magatamaヒスイ勾玉レプリカ20180819ヒスイ勾玉レプリカ20180819洗田遺跡 出土品洗田遺跡 出土品Nihongi by Aston djvu 069Nihongi by Aston djvu 069Stone Magatama from Yoshinogari SiteStone Magatama from Yoshinogari Site室宮山古墳 出土品室宮山古墳 出土品新沢千塚126号墳出土 玉類新沢千塚126号墳出土 玉類矢藤治山古墳出土 勾玉矢藤治山古墳出土 勾玉Itoigawa's jadeite magatamas of Ukikunden SiteItoigawa's jadeite magatamas of Ukikunden SiteMagatamarmMagatamarmTsubaki Grand Shrine of America Magatama PairTsubaki Grand Shrine of America Magatama Pair五色塚古墳出土 滑石製子持勾玉五色塚古墳出土 滑石製子持勾玉坊の塚古墳 出土勾玉坊の塚古墳 出土勾玉洗田遺跡 出土品 (國學院大學博物館展示)洗田遺跡 出土品 (國學院大學博物館展示)猫作・栗山16号墳 中央石枕出土品猫作・栗山16号墳 中央石枕出土品舞台1号墳出土 石製品舞台1号墳出土 石製品長坂聖天塚古墳 出土品長坂聖天塚古墳 出土品Baekje gogokBaekje gogokMagatama40Magatama40Stone Ornaments (29435637193)Stone Ornaments (29435637193)三ツ城1号墳出土 勾玉・管玉三ツ城1号墳出土 勾玉・管玉下池山古墳 出土品下池山古墳 出土品

More from Japan & Korea: Omamori · Ofuda & paper charms · Ema votive plaques · Engimono lucky figures · Korean bujeok & norigae
Every type in the gallery

Anything in the gallery can be made, by hand, in the prescribed metal or yours and, where the tradition names an hour, at that hour or with a plain note that it was not. Numbered. Price on commission, quoted first. I reply within one business day.