THE COURT NECKLACE, CHAO ZHU This type of court necklace developed from a Buddhist rosary sent in 1643 by the Dalai lama to the Shunzi emperor. The necklace typically consisted of a hundred and eight small beads with four large beads of contrasting stones representing the four season. The necklace also served practical functions, being used for calculations if no abacus were available. A long drop extension was placed on the back, serving as counterweight. The Manchu also added three counting strings, two on the left and one on the right. Strict regulations determined the material to be used according to the rank. Only emperors and empresses could use necklaces made of pearls, coral and jade, while necklaces worn by other emmbers of the imperial family were made by any semi-precious stones other than pearls, and women wore three separate chaozu wat the same time; the prncipal string hung from the neck, a second necklace was worn over the left shoulder crossed under the right arm and a third over the the right shoulder, crossing under the left arm. Wrigglesworth, 2000, p. 182-183; Garrett, p. 14-15. A Mandarin necklace , 19th-early20th century , the evenly sized amber beads interspersed with three larger jadeite beads and the jadeite double gourd fotou bead at the back, with the three jinian of carved coral beads suspending pink tourmaline, acquamarine and jadeite drops, 135cm long 清 翡翠电气石ç¥ç€çŠç‘šç»¿çŽ‰ä½©æˆ´æœç