ALEXCIOUS

Fall down seven times, get up eight!

The Daruma doll endures as one of Japan's most popular talismans. Dear to the hearts of the Japanese, Daruma doll reflect their determined spirit and peaceful outlook on life.

Daruma came into existence in Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture in the late seventeenth century as a relief measure for famine stricken farmers. The story goes that the Daruma Temple instructed farm households to make papier-mâché dolls as a way of earning a little extra income.

Daruma’s (or Dharma) Zen roots go back 1500 years to Bodhidharma, the monk credited with establishing Chan Buddhism in China and Zen Buddhism in Japan. Typically made of papier-mâché, traditional Daruma dolls are red, hollow and round, and represent the silhouette of Bodhidharma in deep meditation, sitting in the customary zazen position with his legs folded under his body.

Daruma dolls are closely associated with ‘nana korobi yaoki’, a Japanese proverb meaning that if you ‘fall down seven times, get up eight’. Representing this persistence, the doll's rounded shape makes it return to its original position when knocked over, and in so doing remind us to never give up on our aspirations.

Traditional Daruma dolls have ‘crane’ shaped eyebrows with facial hair drawn in the shape of a turtle, symbolizing longevity. Daruma dolls are 'blind', the idea being to paint in the left eye when you make a wish, then when it has been granted, to paint in the right eye.

Enter the modern, black and white designer Daruma doll created to suit stylish, modern home or office interiors. Eco-friendly and handmade in the traditional way using recycled paper (papier-mâché), the plain white version is finished using a pigment made of crushed shells, while both the black and white versions are decorated with Italian words and a mathematical formula illustrating the ‘nana korobi yaoki’ proverb!

Lady Luck

In addition to traditional Daruma, feminine dolls began to appear during the Edo period (1603~1867). Called ‘Hime Daruma’ (Princess Daruma) or ‘Onna Daruma’ (Lady Daruma), they were satirical representations that alluded to prostitution due to the ’falling down, getting-up’ idea. They were, however, still considered lucky charms!