Daruma – Curiosities about the Japanese Lucky Doll

Daruma is an iconic Japanese doll that symbolizes perseverance, willpower, and the achievement of goals. It is a popular good luck charm in Japan, often used to help people reach their objectives and dreams.

They are fat, rounded dolls made of wood, in red color. They have no eyes, and can even be scary, but the idea is brilliant. In this article, we will explore the history, meanings, and curiosities of this fascinating and important figure in Japanese culture.

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The Origin and History of Daruma

The Daruma is a Japanese figure that represents Bodhidharma, an Indian monk who founded Zen Buddhism in China. Bodhidharma achieved Buddhist enlightenment after nine years of meditation, during which he remained still and with his eyes open.

The Daruma is a doll handcrafted from wood, usually red in color. Although it may seem scary, the doll is not malevolent, characterized by having no arms or legs and its eyes lacking pupils.

People often use the Daruma to make wishes or as decoration and toys. Despite this, the doll is rich in symbolism, considered a talisman of good luck and perseverance for the Japanese.

The Meaning of Daruma

The figure of Daruma is a tribute to Bodhidharma. The name can be written with the ideograms “達磨” where (達) means to reach, arrive, achieve and (磨) means to grind, polish, cut and improve.

Daruma is often seen as a symbol of perseverance and willpower, as the doll remains upright even when pushed to the side. Therefore, we should never give up on our dreams.

This represents the idea that, regardless of the obstacles that arise, we must continue to strive and persevere towards our goals.

Characteristics of the Doll

The daruma is red because this color represents the robe of a high-ranking priest. It is also believed that this color wards off the evil eye and diseases.

A daruma has no eyes (pupil) because legend says that the monk Dharma cut his eyelids to avoid dozing off during his 9 years of meditation in a cave.

The daruma is round, fat, and has no arms or legs because the monk spent years meditating with his arms and legs curled and atrophied over the red robe.

It is due to this dedication and sacrifice that the daruma is associated with hope, perseverance, the realization of dreams, and patience.

Its eyebrows are hand-painted in the shape of a tsuru bird and the beard in the shape of a turtle. These are symbols of long life in Japan.

How to Use the Daruma?

During Shougatsu, Japanese families often buy Darumas to symbolize their wishes and goals for the new year.

The tradition is to write a goal or wish on the back of the doll and then color one of the eyes. When the goal is achieved, the second eye is colored to symbolize success.

The process of coloring the eyes is a way to keep the goal in mind and focus on realizing dreams. Place it in a visible location for you to remember your wish and pursue it.

It is recommended to burn the daruma when your wish is fulfilled, which is usually done during a festival called Setsubun. This act performed at the temple symbolizes the end of one cycle and the beginning of another.

We recommend reading: Oshougatsu – New Year in Japan

Meaning of the Colors of Daruma

The Daruma is often produced in a variety of colors, although the most common color is red. The colors have specific meanings, chosen based on the wishes and goals of the person using them.

Here are some examples of colors and their meanings:

• Red: is the most common color and represents good luck and success. It is also often associated with happiness and protection against evil.
• White: represents love, purity, and harmony, as well as new beginnings and opportunities.
• Yellow: symbolizes wealth, security, and prosperity. It can also be associated with spiritual enlightenment and the pursuit of truth.
• Green: represents health and growth. It can also be related to renewal and personal development. It also symbolizes Health and Fitness;
• Blue: symbolizes health, longevity, tranquility, and calm. It can also be related to harmony and emotional stability. It can also involve Education and Work Status;
• Pink: represents love and romance. It can also be associated with friendship and compassion.
• Black: Fortune and avoids bad luck;
• Gold: Wealth and prosperity;
• Purple: Health and Longevity;
• Orange: school success;
• Silver: Status and Social Position;
• Purple: self-improvement and personality;

When choosing the color of the Doll, it is important to consider the goal or wish you want to achieve. Each color can be used to help manifest a specific wish or goal, and many people choose the color based on their own beliefs and personal needs.

How are Darumas Made?

Darumas are handcrafted, with each doll being made individually by specialized artisans. The making of a Daruma involves several steps, including shaping the body of the doll, applying several layers of papier-mâché, and hand painting.

Below are some of the steps in the Daruma manufacturing process:

1. Shaping the body: The first step involves shaping the body of the doll into a wooden form. The body is formed with several layers of wet papier-mâché and molded into an oval or round shape.
2. Drying: After shaping, the body is left to dry naturally. This can take several days or weeks, depending on the size of the doll.
3. Painting: Once the body is dry, it is hand-painted with the chosen color. The red color is the most common, but as mentioned earlier, they can be found in other colors.
4. Decoration: After painting, the Daruma is decorated with the beard, eyebrows, and other details. The eyes are left without pupils so the owner can paint them as desired.
5. Packaging: Finally, the doll is packaged in a box and is ready to be sold.

Finding the Lucky Doll

Takasai in Gunma represents 80% of the production of these handmade dolls in the country. This city has a long history of Daruma production since the 17th century, where farmers relied on a good harvest and used the dolls as amulets. There is even a special shrine for the Daruma.

Daruma come in various sizes and shapes, typically ranging from 6 to 75 centimeters. There are female versions called Hime Daruma, which are often bought by parents to protect babies. Although they sell the dolls, it is not recommended to buy one for yourself, as this does not bring luck! So if you want one, ask a friend for it as a gift.

In the past, some troll artists from the Edo Period depicted daruma in phallic ways. They related it to penises because both cannot lie down. Even the prostitutes of the time earned the nickname daruma because they kept the clients’ Malaquias standing…

Putting aside the jokes and commercial intentions, a Daruma doll represents three things: your goal, your action, and the result. What do you think of these Japanese dolls? Do you have any additional information to add through a comment? We appreciate your sharing and also recommend reading: