Stories Behind the Beings

Meet the beings behind Jambhala—figures drawn from old stories, literature, myth, and visual tradition, each with a distinct form, history, and story.

These stories are the starting point for our jewelry. Explore the collection below and follow any Being into its full story.

Bai Qiulian, a Jambhala mythic being

Bai Qiulian

A water spirit whose story turns on love, distance, and the pull of home.

Bai Ze, a Jambhala mythic being

Bai Ze

A knowing beast remembered for recognizing strange beings and hidden things.

Biyi, a Jambhala mythic being

Biyi

Two birds, each with one wing and one eye, able to fly only together.

Bifang, a Jambhala mythic being

Bifang

A one-legged fire bird whose appearance is linked with fire and warning.

Bo, a Jambhala mythic being

Bo

A horned mountain beast with tiger teeth and claws, said to ward off weapons.

Canggeng, a Jambhala mythic being

Canggeng

A strange bird remembered in later records for its many-headed form.

Chenghuang, a Jambhala mythic being

Chenghuang

A swift golden beast said to extend life for those who rode it.

Daiwei, a Jambhala mythic being

Daiwei

A jade spirit remembered as a blue-green woman emerging from stone.

Dijiang, a Jambhala mythic being

Dijiang

A faceless being with six legs and four wings, yet able to sing and dance.

Feilian, a Jambhala mythic being

Feilian

A wind-associated being shaped by speed, movement, and changing forms.

Feifei, a Jambhala mythic being

Feifei

A gentle catlike beast said to ease sorrow when kept near.

Fuzhu, a Jambhala mythic being

Fuzhu

A pale four-horned deer whose appearance is followed by great floods.

Heluo, a Jambhala mythic being

Heluo

A strange creature with one head and ten bodies.

Jiguang, a Jambhala mythic being

Jiguang

A rare being remembered through a coat said to endure water and fire.

Jimeng, a Jambhala mythic being

Jimeng

A water-linked being whose movement is followed by strong wind and rain.

Jiaoren, a Jambhala mythic being

Jiaoren

Water-dwelling people associated with fine weaving, pearls, and later stories of exchange.

Jiaoduan, a Jambhala mythic being

Jiaoduan

A one-horned beast said to understand many languages and travel great distances.

Jinwu, a Jambhala mythic being

Jinwu

The three-legged crow associated with the sun and its daily course.

Jiuse Lu, a Jambhala mythic being

Jiuse Lu

A rescue, a promise, and the cost of betrayal.

Goumang, a Jambhala mythic being

Goumang

A spring-associated figure linked with the east, wood, and new growth.

Kui, a Jambhala mythic being

Kui

A one-legged beast whose appearance is tied to storm, sound, and thunder.

Kun, a Jambhala mythic being

Kun

The immense fish in Zhuangzi that transforms into Peng and rises into the sky.

Luwu, a Jambhala mythic being

Luwu

A guardian of Kunlun and the ordered spaces of the divine mountain.

Lushu, a Jambhala mythic being

Lushu

A patterned mountain beast whose call is compared to singing and whose fur is linked with descendants.

Luoshen, a Jambhala mythic being

Luoshen

A luminous river goddess at the center of a story of beauty, longing, and separation.

Qingfu, a Jambhala mythic being

Qingfu

A legendary insect remembered in old stories about separation, return, and money.

Qingluan, a Jambhala mythic being

Qingluan

A blue-green luan bird associated in later tradition with auspicious flight and celestial imagery.

Qingji, a Jambhala mythic being

Qingji

A tiny yellow-clad being described as swift, elusive, and difficult to see clearly.

Qiulong, a Jambhala mythic being

Qiulong

A coiling dragon form described differently across ancient and later traditions.

Ranyi, a Jambhala mythic being

Ranyi

A six-legged fish with a serpent head and horse-like features, preserved in protective lore.

Wenyao, a Jambhala mythic being

Wenyao

A patterned winged fish whose appearance is linked with a good harvest.

Xiangliu, a Jambhala mythic being

Xiangliu

A nine-headed serpent whose destructive waters leave the land difficult to use.

Xiezhi, a Jambhala mythic being

Xiezhi

A horned beast remembered for distinguishing right from wrong and striking the guilty.

Xuanwu, a Jambhala mythic being

Xuanwu

The northern emblem formed by a tortoise entwined with a snake.

Xuangui, a Jambhala mythic being

Xuangui

A turtle-like creature with a bird’s head and serpent tail, preserved in an old account of hearing.

Yinglong, a Jambhala mythic being

Yinglong

A winged dragon appearing across stories of battle, rain, and flood control.

Yingzhao, a Jambhala mythic being

Yingzhao

A winged, tiger-striped guardian associated with the care of a divine garden.

Yuanchu, a Jambhala mythic being

Yuanchu

A noble bird in Zhuangzi that refuses what does not suit it and chooses only what is worthy.

Chongming, a Jambhala mythic being

Chongming

A double-pupiled bird remembered for driving harmful creatures away.

Zhuyin, a Jambhala mythic being

Zhuyin

A far-northern dragon associated with day and night, cold and warmth.

Zouwu, a Jambhala mythic being

Zouwu

A swift, five-colored beast described as tiger-sized with a tail longer than its body.


Every piece begins with a story. You can also explore the Beings through Jambhala’s five contemporary meanings: Protection, Clarity, Transformation, Connection, and Abundance.