Daruma Dolls

A Daruma doll represents Bodhidharma, a Buddhist priest from India who introduced Zen Buddhism in Japan.
This lucky charm in papier-mâché is usually sold in Buddhist temples.
Shapes and colors sometimes vary but darumas are usually round, red with black and golden patterns.
Daruma dolls are originating from daruma-ji, a temple located in Takasaki city in Gunma prefecture.
A festival based on this object takes place every year.
The shape of this statue allows it to stay straight whatever is its initial position...
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For example if you put a Daruma on a side or upside down it will invariably come back to its proper position!
A new daruma doesn't have any pupil on its eyes. When its owner sets a goal to reach he draws the left eye. The statue with only one eye reminds him of his goal and encourages him. Once the owner has reached his goal he draws the second eye.
At the beginning of the following year, all darumas with two eyes are bring back to the temple where they were bought and burned during a ceremony called daruma Kuyou.
More generally Japanese people use them to make a wish happen.
All our darumas are made by craftsmen in Takasaki, Japan.

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