A vintage Japanese Daruma doll, a talisman symbolizing perseverance and good luck. Handcrafted and carved from wood. It features a painted face with round, wide eyes, thick eyebrows, a mustache, and a beard, elements traditionally used to depict Bodhidharma. The wear and texture, especially around the mouth and beard area, give it a rustic, antique look that extensive handling over time.
The Daruma doll traces its origins to Bodhidharma, who, according to legend, meditated for nine years at Shaolin Temple, causing his limbs to atrophy. During the Edo period, Japan suffered the Tenmei Great Famine, severely affecting Takasaki. In response, Master Dong Yue carved the first “Dharma Tumbler” doll, inspired by the "One-Stroke Daruma" painting, and taught locals to craft and sell them for both protection and livelihood.
By the 19th century, a smallpox epidemic in Edo Castle led to the custom of buying Daruma dolls for good luck. The Daruma’s resilience—its ability to right itself after being knocked over—symbolizes the famous saying “fall down seven times, get up eight” (七転び八起き, Nanakorobi Yaoki), making it a symbol of perseverance and recovery.
Size: 3 x 3 x 6.5cm
