Have you ever seen this red paper doll ? Do you know its name and who is the model ? What is the symbol of this doll and what does this bring you ?

This red paper doll's name is Daruma.

At first, I tell you its casual side.

 

How to buy :

you can buy it in small stalls in the precincts of temples at the beginning of the New Year or special Daruma market days.

Effects:

bring good luck, defend you and your family and grant your wish.

Direction for use:

when you buy it, you paint only right eye and wish something. When your wish is granted, you paint left eye to express your gratitude. At the beginning of next year, when you go to buy new Daruma doll, you bring old one there. The temple burned it. Each year, you should buy bigger one. It's the custom, though I feel it's a Daruma maker's plot.

Many candidates in Japan have big Daruma in their office, they paint left eye when they are elected.

Now, I tell you philosophical side of this doll. Daruma doll's model is Indian priest Daruma. He went to China and started the Zen sect there. His famous anecdote is that he continued to sit and do Zen in front of the wall for nine years to get Satori, spiritual awakening. This doll is imitated Daruma's sitting pose, so two handsand two legs are hidden in the red clothes, and it teach us to be patient or never to give up like him. It's because this doll is a tumbler. We have the proverb "nana(seven) korobi(fall dawn) ya(eight ) oki(stand up)" . Tumbler dolls are the symbol of never give up.

I'm not serious about this bring-fortune doll but I love this Japanese traditional design and hand made work. He is good looking, isn't he ?