Early ju-i's still retained something of their back-scratcher shape. This can be seen from the nine precious ju-i's from the mid-8th century kept at the Todaiji Temple in Nara, Japan.
當然，早期的如意還保持爪杖的模樣，這由日本奈良東大寺正倉院所藏，八世紀中葉製作的九件華貴無比的如意，可資證明。