In Buddhist scripture, the offerings of a wheel-turning king include a set of precious substances: the Seven Treasures (藏传佛教七宝, zang chuan fo jiao qi bao). The list is not fixed: different sutras name slightly different sets, translated differently across Chinese, Tibetan, and English traditions. The version most often cited in Chinese Buddhist culture is:
Gold (金, jin) · Silver (银, yin) · Lapis Lazuli (琉璃, liu li) · Agate (玛瑙, ma nao) · Coral (珊瑚, shan hu) · Pearl/Giant Clam (珍珠 (zhen zhu) / 砗磲 (che qu)) · Amber (琥珀, hu po)
Other versions substitute crystal (水晶, shui jing) for one of the gems, and the exact identity of 琉璃 (liu li): lapis lazuli, beryl, or blue glass, has been debated by translators for centuries.
Why They Matter
The treasures symbolize what is rare, enduring, and incorruptible, qualities associated with awakened mind. In practice, they became the palette of sacred material culture: what an offering is made of matters as much as what it says. Gold and silver for merit. Lapis for wisdom. Coral for life force. Pearls for purity. Amber for protection and longevity.
The Treasures We Carry
- Amber: one of the two organic gems on the list, and the heart of our collection. See Amber.
- Lapis Lazuli: the deep-blue wisdom stone. See Lapis Lazuli.
- Pearls: including our hand-inlaid Pearl pieces.
- Silver: the metal of the classic turquoise-coral-silver palette (see Tibetan Color Symbolism), used throughout our findings.
Two We Don't Carry, and Why
- Coral: trade in precious coral is regulated to protect reef ecosystems, and international shipping restrictions make responsible retail impractical for us. The traditional meanings of coral are preserved on our Tibetan Color Symbolism page.
- Giant clam (砗磲, che qu): listed as a treasure in some versions of the canon, but giant clams are a protected species (CITES Appendix II). We don't sell shell from them, full stop.
Choosing not to sell a "treasure" is, we think, very much in the spirit of the treasures.
Related: Amber · Lapis Lazuli · Pearl · Tibetan Color Symbolism · Claims We Don't Make