Kishishu - Kishishu

…The most common number of beads is 108, but according to the sutras, there are seven other types: 1080 beads, 54 beads, 42 beads, 27 beads, 21 beads, and 14 beads. In the Yuzu Nembutsu sect, 36 beads are used, and in the Zen sect, 18 beads are used. Other numbers also exist, and each number is based on a Buddhist significance. The basic type of rosary has 108 beads, which is said to represent the 108 worldly desires and the 108 deities' correct and unwavering minds. In addition to the 108 main beads (seiju), they are made up of a large bead called a mother bead, small beads called Shiten beads, Kiko beads, and Jomei beads, and Kikotome beads. The 108 main beads (child beads) are divided into two equal parts of 54 beads each, and the large bead located in the middle of each and at the center of the rosary is called the mother bead (parent bead). …

*Some of the terminology explanations that mention "Kishizu" are listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…これらの玉を連ねる個数は108珠がもっとも普遍的であり，他に経典の説くところによれば1080珠，54珠，42珠，27珠，21珠，14珠の計7種があり，また融通念仏宗では36珠，禅宗では18珠のものも用いられており，これ以外の個数のものも存し，それぞれの個数は仏教的な意義づけにもとづいている。　数珠の基本型は108珠で，これは百八煩悩にして百八尊の正しくして動じない心をあらわすとされ，その構成は108珠の主珠(成珠)のほかに母珠という大珠と四天珠，記子珠，浄明珠の小珠，それに記子留の各珠から成りたっている。108珠の主珠(子珠)を2等分して54珠ずつにふり分け，それぞれの中間に位置して数珠の中心となる大珠を母珠(親珠)と呼んでいる。…

※「記子珠」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報