Who is Daruma?
Daruma (dah-ROO-mah), also known as Bodhidharma, was an Indian monk who traveled from India to China in the fifth century. Many believe that Daruma is the founder of Zen Buddhism in Japan (Ch'an Buddhism in China).
Bodhidharma was born into a high-caste family in India but abandoned the family's wealth and prestigious reputation to lead a more modest and self-reflective lifestyle. Daruma left India at about 100 years of age in hopes of reaching China. Even though Daruma was over 100 years old, these are the years that are important to Japanese and Chinese culture. After three long, grueling and exhausting years Daruma reached southern China in 520 A.D.
Daruma left southern China rather quickly because he felt his view on life and the way he thought of Buddhism was very different to that of those that surrounded him. He believed in self-reflection and being in a meditative state while those in the region were interested in building temples and looking for acceptance and a sense of appreciation in others. He is said to have traveled north on the Yangtze River on a reed to northern China. It is in this region that Daruma excelled as a Buddhist monk and teacher.
Daruma is not only thought of as the founder of Zen Buddhism, but is also said to have brought certain martial arts to the region as well as the creator of tea. Daruma is known to have meditated in a cave for nine consecutive years. During this time he cut his eyelids off and threw them to the ground with frustration. He wanted to stay awake while meditating and his heavy and falling eyelids did not allow him to do this. Where his eyelids landed the first tea plant grew. His arms and legs fell off during this nine-year period, which is why many illustrations and figurines of Daruma have no arms or legs.
Even though many Zen Buddhist ideas migrated into Japan over the years it wasn't until twelfth century that Zen Buddhism truly made it to Japan. Daruma did not physically bring Zen Buddhism to Japan, instead two Japanese monks who trained in China are said to have brought Zen Buddhism and legend of its founder, Daruma, back to Japan.
Bodhidharma was born into a high-caste family in India but abandoned the family's wealth and prestigious reputation to lead a more modest and self-reflective lifestyle. Daruma left India at about 100 years of age in hopes of reaching China. Even though Daruma was over 100 years old, these are the years that are important to Japanese and Chinese culture. After three long, grueling and exhausting years Daruma reached southern China in 520 A.D.
Daruma left southern China rather quickly because he felt his view on life and the way he thought of Buddhism was very different to that of those that surrounded him. He believed in self-reflection and being in a meditative state while those in the region were interested in building temples and looking for acceptance and a sense of appreciation in others. He is said to have traveled north on the Yangtze River on a reed to northern China. It is in this region that Daruma excelled as a Buddhist monk and teacher.
Daruma is not only thought of as the founder of Zen Buddhism, but is also said to have brought certain martial arts to the region as well as the creator of tea. Daruma is known to have meditated in a cave for nine consecutive years. During this time he cut his eyelids off and threw them to the ground with frustration. He wanted to stay awake while meditating and his heavy and falling eyelids did not allow him to do this. Where his eyelids landed the first tea plant grew. His arms and legs fell off during this nine-year period, which is why many illustrations and figurines of Daruma have no arms or legs.
Even though many Zen Buddhist ideas migrated into Japan over the years it wasn't until twelfth century that Zen Buddhism truly made it to Japan. Daruma did not physically bring Zen Buddhism to Japan, instead two Japanese monks who trained in China are said to have brought Zen Buddhism and legend of its founder, Daruma, back to Japan.
New Table of Contents
Where can Daruma be seen today?
Japan
After the introduction of Zen Buddhism in Japan, Daruma became an extremely important symbol and figure for the Japanese. He represents good luck, preserverance and hard work. Images, illustration and figurines of Daruma can be seen throughout Japanese culture and homes.The most commonly seen Daruma is the papier-mâché doll shown here. This doll is known as the okiagari koboshi (little self-righting monk). As you can see, Daruma is depicted as an armless and legless being. If made correctly, the doll will always sit back up when pushed over. This idea goes back to what Daruma represents, an individual that is centered and can always sit back up to continue meditating.
These papier-mâché figures are mostly seen in bright red with the same strong facial features shown here.
Daruma Toys
In Japan, children are often given Daruma toys. The most common toy is the doll shown above because it is inexpensive and easily accesible to many families and children.The toy shown here is a Daruma top made of wood. Knowing that Japanese children receive toys in shapes of Daruma, it is clear to see that from a young age mmost Japanese indviduals know exactly what Daruma represents.
Daruma Paintings
Paintings of Daruma are often seen throughout Japanese households. At times Daruma is depicted as a human with both his legs and arms while meditating, traveling up the Yangtze River on a reed or at any other moment in his life. (See the woodblock print below to get a different portrait view of Daruma).This painting illustrates both female and male Daruma-like dolls without arms or legs. Female Daruma figurines are often depicted as good luck charms.
Another Good Luck Charm
Cats are often seen as an animal of good luck. Here you can see two beings in one object giving its owner good luck.Maneki Neko is also known as the Japanese beckoning cat and has also become a popular collectors item. It is said that the cat will call in customers and that is why its paw is up in the air waving and calling people in.
Household Decorations
This small pillow with a Daruma image is just one more example of the variety of crafts that are made in Japan depicting Bodhidharma's life and as a reminder to the homeowner what Daruma represents. Little snack of luck....
As has been clearly demonstrated, the image of Daruma can be seen throughtout Japan in religious, cultural, and household decorations. This illustration of Daruma has been placed on a caramel corn bag. This corn bags are given to students that are in the middle of exams. It is both a snack and a good luck charm. It is a clear indication that Daruma is a figure that every Japanese individual is familiar with. Eyes Wide Open
This familiarity and understanding between Daruma's image and the Japanese culture is further demonstrated in the relationship that still exists between the two. The relationship begins when an individual purchases one of the papier-mâché dolls. The Daruma eyes are left blank on purpose. It is up to the individual to fill in the left eye of the Daruma doll before he sets his mind to fulfilling some dream or goal. When that goal is completed, the individual can then fill in the right eye making the doll complete.Here you can see that some of the Daruma dolls are complete while others only have one eye filled in. This is a simple way to view that some goals have been attained by the owner while others are still a work in progress.
Daruma is a symbol of hard work, perseverance and strong will. This interactive relationship between man and Daruma further intensifies the ability and choice one has to go after a dream or goal. Daruma had the strength to do so, which in turn gives you the power with his help and guidance to attain our individual goals.
Seasonal Daruma- December 2008
A quick glance at Daruma festivals and celebrations taking place each month.
December 17-18: Iizumi Kannon Festival, Odawara, Kanagawa PrefectureDecember 24, 30: Yearend Fairs (Fukishima City)
December 25, 31: Yearend Fairs
Teachings of Zen Buddhism
This is one of the one-hundred woodblock prints made by Yoshitoshi for his "One hundred aspects of the moon collection." Here Yoshitoshi has created an image where Daruma is seen in a strong meditative state during his consecutive nine-years of meditaiton.It is in this cave and during this time that zazen (meditation) came to be. Daruma's teaching of mediation are few but very complicated and hard to attain for someone that is actively looking for it.
http://darumamuseum.blogspot.com/2009/02/norakuro-daruma.html
- Yangtze River
- Daruma travelled up the river on a reed to reach northern China.
- Shaolin Monastery
- This is where Daruma is said to have meditated for nine years staring at a cave wall.
- Shaolin Temple USA
- A place where students from around the world come to learn the Shaolin way.
- Yoshitoshi's One hundred aspects of the moon
- A beautiful collection of Yoshitoshi's prints.
- Obama Article
- Obama (the city) sent Obama (the man) a beautiful lacquered Daruma figure.
- Black darumas?
- Some people in Japan are beginning to buy black darumas.
- Cell phone decoration
- You can carry your luck with you every day.
- Get your very own daruma.
- Follow this link and be taken to a place where you can purchase a Daruma mug to use on a daily basis.
Explore related pages
Zen Mind Beginner's Mind, Zen Lectures From Shunryu Suzuki- Zen Mind Beginners Mind fell in to my lap one rainy afternoon. It was the late f...
Asian Style- I've had the good fortune of being able to travel around Asia and to live th...
Living Buddhism- My purpose here is to introduce you to the concepts of Buddhism and to provide s...
A Jewish Mother In Shangri-La- So. What if I wake one morning and my adult child has his own (very different) l...
Matthieu Ricard- ..then reading Matthieu Ricard is like opening the windows and letting the cool...
everything zen- 'I have discovered that it is necessary, absolutely necessary, to believe in not...
