Daruma

Daruma craft refers to the making of Daruma dolls, which are traditional Japanese papier-mâché figures modeled after Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen Buddhism. These dolls are typically round, hollow, and weighted at the bottom so they return to an upright position when tilted—symbolizing resilience and perseverance, expressed in the phrase Nanakorobi yaoki (“Fall down seven times, get up eight”). Daruma dolls are usually red with a bearded face and blank white eyes. People paint one eye when making a wish or setting a goal and fill in the other eye once it is achieved, making them popular as good luck charms and New Year’s gifts.