Daruma (達磨 or だるま) is the Japanese name for Bodhidharma. Daruma also refers to a hollow and round Japanese wish doll with no arms and legs, modelled after Bodhidharma. Typical colors are red (most common), yellow, green and white. The doll has a face with a moustache and beard but with eyes only containing the color white. Some dolls have written characters on the cheeks explaining the kind of wish or desire the owner has in mind, such as protection of loved ones. The surname of the owner may be written on the chin.
Daruma dolls are typically purchased in or near Japanese Buddhisttemples and can range in price from 1000 yen for small dolls (~15cm in height) to 10,000 yen or more for the largest dolls (~60cm in height). It is normal to own only a single daruma at a time.
Making a wish
Using black ink one fills in a single circular eye while thinking of a wish. Should the wish later come true the second eye is filled in. Until then the daruma is displayed in a high location in one's home, typically close to other significant belongings such as a Butsudan (a Buddhist praying box).
Controversial aspects
In the late 1990s, several groups of human rights activists claimed that the practice of making Daruma without eyes and its subsequent process represents discrimination against blind people. Even though it was a completely baseless claim, media and politicians eager to show support of political correctness stopped showing eyeless daruma altogether. It used to be a signifying moment in an election to have the winner draw an eye but it is never shown since then and all re-cap of previous elections are run without showing the scene as well.
Other
If the daruma doll was purchased within a temple (the temple's mark is imprinted on such dolls) the owner can return it for burning. Most temples will refuse to burn dolls not exhibiting the temple's mark. Burning usually occurs at the year end. This is done as a purification ritual to let kami know that one did not give up on the wish, but are choosing other path to making it come true.
External links
Daruma-san in Japanese Art and Culture, Discussion Forum by Gabi Greve (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Darumasan-Japan/)
Darumadolls are typically purchased in or near JapaneseBuddhisttemples and can range in price from 1000 yen for small dolls (~15cm in height) to 10,000 yen or more for the largest dolls (~60cm in height).
Until then the daruma is displayed in a high location in one's home, typically close to other significant belongings such as a Butsudan (a Buddhist praying box).
In the late 1990s, several groups of human rights activists claimed that the practice of making Daruma without eyes (and the practices associated with them) is discriminatory against the blind.
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