Every New Year, temple grounds are
dotted with stalls selling all manner of good luck charms, welcoming cats (manekineko) and
little roly-poly bearded men clad in red. But these little men, unlike another fat man in
red who comes at the end of the year, don' look so jolly. They have no eyes or legs, for
a start. But why? Well, nobody really knows, and the legends and stories surrounding the
Daruma doll, a caricature of the Bodhidarma, are numerous and often contradictory.
What is undisputed historical fact is that some time in the fifth century the Indian
priest Bodhidarma, through a grueling regimen of meditation and self-deprivation, attained
satori, a state of enlightenment. Daruma's teachings became the foundation of Zen
Buddhism, which he later introduced to China where it flourished and produced several
off-shoot sects.
Late in the twelfth century, Zen became the favored sect of Buddhism among the samurai.
The basic practice of Zen centers around long sessions of zazen, seated Zen meditation,
which is supposed to free the mind of the illusions of this world so one can attain
enlightenment. Along with the establishment of Zen came the introduction of tea, since
green tea was used to ward off drowsiness during long zazen sessions. It is said that
Daruma carried green tea plants with him on his journey to China, so even today at some
Zen monasteries throughout Japan a special tea ceremony is performed honoring Daruma.
In one version of the legend, Daruma is said to have sat in meditation facing a cave wall
for nine years without blinking or moving his eyes. In another, he even cut off his
eyelids because he got irritated with himself for dozing off. Yet more versions of the
Daruma legend have it that the first two green tea plants in China sprang up on the spot
where he threw his eyelids. Anyway, after facing the cave wall for those nine years (some
tales say seven) Daruma's legs shriveled up and fell off from non-use. This is why Daruma
dolls have no legs. All in all a pretty fearsome sight, what with his bearded scowl and
vacant eyes.
To the Japanese, Daruma represents discipline, determination, sacrifice and forbearance.
Come the New Year, many companies buy a large Daruma and paint in one of the eyes
representing their goal for the coming year. The painted eye of Daruma is always open and
focused on the goal; when it is reached, the other eye is painted in. "Both eyes
open", in fact, is an expression for success in Japan. Individuals, too, carry out
this practice for personal goals such as passing tests or getting a job.
Political candidates at the beginning of an election period will often buy a Daruma and
when they win have a celebration party where it is customary for the victorious candidate
to paint in the other eye. At the end of the year all the Daruma dolls are taken to the
temple where they are burned in a big bonfire and new dolls are taken home or back to the
office.
The saying most often heard about Daruma goes "Seven times pushed over, eight times
rises." To the Japanese, Daruma is a reminder of the resilience and determination
needed to achieve success.
Every New Year, temple grounds are
dotted with stalls selling all manner of good luck charms, welcoming cats (manekineko) and
little roly-poly bearded men clad in red. But these little men, unlike another fat man in
red who comes at the end of the year, don' look so jolly. They have no eyes or legs, for
a start. But why? Well, nobody really knows, and the legends and stories surrounding the
Daruma doll, a caricature of the Bodhidarma, are numerous and often contradictory.
BIG IN JAPAN: