Mixed Materials Leizu Talisman Braided Red Cord Bracelet

The Thunder Ancestor is the highest deity of the thunder bureau, and his full title is too long to get through in one breath, so temples usually write just “Thunder Ancestor.” The thunder rites of Daoism put him first: the rite begins by invoking him, which is a rule with a lineage behind it, not something said offhand. He has a great many generals under him — Deng, Xin, Zhang, Tao — each with a portfolio. He is the one who commands them, and his own images are mostly seated, a sword in one hand and a mudra in the other. In thunder rites a talisman is drawn only after his form has been visualized; the brush goes down once the picture is clear.

The Thunder Ancestor hui is one large composite character: a rain radical on top, the parts of several characters stacked below, the strokes so dense there is hardly any air. It has to be written in one continuous stroke; lift the brush midway and the qi is cut. A character like this is not for reading, only for recognizing. Composite characters of this kind still turn up over temple doorways and on steles, and in a good hand the strokes are dense while the breath still moves through them.

The bracelet is braided: a flat knot to start, a stretch of vajra knots in the middle, a button knot to close. Braided tight, it doesn't loosen with wear; braided loose, it looks good but deforms easily. The red cord is stranded thread, softer than jade cord, so it doesn't chafe the skin. The price is that it fuzzes. Stranded thread is many fine filaments twisted together, strong, and one broken strand doesn't take the whole cord. When it fuzzes, don't burn it; cut it off. Comb the strands straight before braiding; twisted strands braid crooked. After the knot is tied, singe the tail with the blue part of a lighter flame; the yellow part leaves a black spot.

Mixed material here means cord, copper piece and spacer together. The copper piece is a square plaque with all four corners rounded. The cord passes through the holes at the sides, and as you move the plaque slides around to the outside of the wrist. Sliding is normal. Don't glue it; glue won't wash out. It turns because the inside of the wrist has a shorter circumference, so it works its way around. A very small thunder character is cut on the back of the plaque; you won't see it without looking closely.

A red cord loses color in water, and the first few hand-washings will stain your fingers red. That is dye, not the color failing. Take it off for a shower and let it dry before wearing, and it will last a long time. Saying so when you give it saves explaining later. Some people find red cord rustic; switch to dark brown, the protective meaning is the same. A red cord darkens as it ages, and when it goes near black it is time to change it. Usually once a year; someone watching a zodiac year changes it every six months.