Carved Peachwood Keyring

A carved wooden figure on a knotted cord, made to hang from your keys.

Peachwood is the wood the Chinese tradition reaches for when something needs guarding. Peach charms hung on doors at New Year long before paper ones did, and a piece carried on the person does the same quiet job at a smaller scale. The carving is the choice: Guan Yin, the bodhisattva who hears the cries of the world, in several of her forms, for compassion and safe passage; the laughing Maitreya on a lotus leaf with coins, for contentment and plenty; Vairocana, the central Buddha of light; Guan Gong, the general kept by shopkeepers for loyalty and protection; and a little novice monk with his eyes shut and palms together, kept as a reminder to pause before rushing on.

Each is carved in the round, so it reads from every side, with wood beads on the cord that knock softly against it. Charms like these are traditionally given for safe passage, which is why they so often end up on car keys.

Bought for a first car, a new set of house keys, or a friend starting a job across town.