Description

Japanese ceramic sake cup (guinomi in Japanese) decorated with the hand-painted image of Daruma bodhidharma along with a red wasp and stylized Japanese calligraphy.  This sake cup was made during the mid to late Showa period (1926-1989) and is in good condition with no chips or cracks though it does have some marks and scratches from handling.  The cup was acquired in the beautiful and historic city of Shizuoka, Japan near the foot of Mt. Fuji. Click here to see more sake cups!

Size:
Height: 1.2 inches (3.0 centimeters)
Diameter: 2.1 inches (5.5 centimeters)
Weight: 1.1 ounces (32 grams)

Click here to see additional items from Japan

More about Japanese sake and sake utensils

Sake has long been an important part of Japanese culture.  In the past, sake was considered a very special item, reserved for only the most important occasions, such as weddings, birth celebrations and other auspicious events.  Sake was considered a sacred drink, and accordingly the first glass poured was always offered to the gods before the remainder could be shared among the celebrants.  Sake can be served either warm or cold and special sake flasks are used to both prepare and dispense this unique Japanese drink.  Sake is warmed either by immersing the flask (already filled with sake of course) into warm water until the desired temperature is reached or through the use of a special sake kettle called a choshi.  The latter method however, though common in old Japan, is today usually reserved for ceremonial events only.  Over time, sake utensils, such as cups have developed their own ritual significance which is still evident in modern Japan.  For example, it is today common at Japanese engagement parties for the man and woman to exchange sake cups as a sign of their mutual intent to marry.  Very beautiful sake cups are also given away to celebrate the birth of a child, as these cherished items are considered symbolic of the significance of the new parent-child relationship.  Though normally small in size, sake cups and flasks have long been used in Japan as a medium for the expression of art and calligraphy.  Hand-painted cups and flasks are highly collectable both within and outside Japan and are eagerly sought after by collectors who value their utilitarian nature and artistic splendor.

item code: R3S6B1R6-0005732
category code: SAKECUP
ship code: L1650

Description

Tiny (please see size information below) hand-painted wooden Daruma figurine.  The little Daruma-san is in good condition with no chips or cracks though it does have some marks and scratches from handling and past display.  This Daruma figure is less than 30 years old and was acquired in the historic city of Shizuoka, Japan near the foot of Mt. Fuji.  Please read below to learn about the history and legend of Daruma.

Size:
Height: 0.6 inches (1.6 centimeters)
Weight: 0.04 ounces (1 grams)

Important note:
Images of the Daruma items which we list are often uploaded to our Daruma Blog which is an on-line gallery of unique and interesting Daruma items.  The purpose of this blog is strictly to share images of some of the wonderful Daruma we encounter in the course of our work, and to provide a digital archive to preserve these images into the future.  If you purchase a Daruma item from us and do not want a digital copy of your Daruma displayed in the photo blog or archive then please simply send us an email indicating your preference and we will promptly remove the item images.

Click here to see more Daruma items!
Click here to see additional treasures from Japan!

More about Daruma

“Life falls down seven times, yet gets up eight…”  This popular Japanese proverb is commonly associated with the Indian Buddhist sage Daruma.  Daruma is the more familiar name of the historical Buddhist monk Bodhidarma, who lived sometime during the fifth or sixth century AD.  Daruma is credited with the founding of the Zen sect of Buddhism, which he is reputed to have introduced into China during his travels there.  Some of the legends surrounding this figure include tales that he achieved enlightenment or satori only after meditating in a cave for seven years without blinking or moving his eyes.  Another story tells that his enlightenment occurred within a temple in China where he spent his seven years sitting in a room staring at a wall.  Apparently at some point during his long meditation Daruma became so overcome with fatigue that he cut off his eyelids in anger and tossed them to the ground.  These are reputed to have then sprouted into China’s first green tea plants!  It is said that Daruma’s long meditation caused his arms and legs to wither and fall off, leaving him as an armless, legless and eyelidless (yet enlightened) Bodhidarma…  The Japanese love this story and admire Daruma for his spirit and determination, and each new year many Japanese will buy a paper-mache Daruma tumbler doll in order to enlist its services in helping them persevere towards their own goals or achievements.  The dolls are sold with unpainted eyes, allowing the new owner to paint in one eye to symbolize the start of a new goal or venture.  The doll is then placed in a prominent place within the home or at work in order to remind the owner to keep after their aim.  Japanese students especially utilize Daruma to motivate them with their studies; placing a one-eyed Daruma before them on their desk as motivation to work hard and make the grade.  Only after the goal is achieved will the owner then paint in the second eye, symbolizing a realized goal.  Daruma dolls which have completed their jobs as perseverance role models are normally then brought to a temple to be burned during special ceremonies set aside for this purpose.  The last images below are various representations of Daruma found at a Zen temple near our home in Japan.

item code: R2S4-0004161
ship code: L1650

Description

Tiny (please see size information below) hand-painted wooden Daruma figurine.  The little Daruma-san is in good condition with no chips or cracks though it does have some marks and scratches from handling and past display.  This Daruma figure is less than 30 years old and was acquired in the historic city of Shizuoka, Japan near the foot of Mt. Fuji.  Please read below to learn about the history and legend of Daruma.

Size:
Height: 0.6 inches (1.6 centimeters)
Weight: 0.04 ounces (1 grams)

Important note:
Images of the Daruma items which we list are often uploaded to our Daruma Blog which is an on-line gallery of unique and interesting Daruma items.  The purpose of this blog is strictly to share images of some of the wonderful Daruma we encounter in the course of our work, and to provide a digital archive to preserve these images into the future.  If you purchase a Daruma item from us and do not want a digital copy of your Daruma displayed in the photo blog or archive then please simply send us an email indicating your preference and we will promptly remove the item images.

Click here to see more Daruma items!
Click here to see additional treasures from Japan!

More about Daruma

“Life falls down seven times, yet gets up eight…”  This popular Japanese proverb is commonly associated with the Indian Buddhist sage Daruma.  Daruma is the more familiar name of the historical Buddhist monk Bodhidarma, who lived sometime during the fifth or sixth century AD.  Daruma is credited with the founding of the Zen sect of Buddhism, which he is reputed to have introduced into China during his travels there.  Some of the legends surrounding this figure include tales that he achieved enlightenment or satori only after meditating in a cave for seven years without blinking or moving his eyes.  Another story tells that his enlightenment occurred within a temple in China where he spent his seven years sitting in a room staring at a wall.  Apparently at some point during his long meditation Daruma became so overcome with fatigue that he cut off his eyelids in anger and tossed them to the ground.  These are reputed to have then sprouted into China’s first green tea plants!  It is said that Daruma’s long meditation caused his arms and legs to wither and fall off, leaving him as an armless, legless and eyelidless (yet enlightened) Bodhidarma…  The Japanese love this story and admire Daruma for his spirit and determination, and each new year many Japanese will buy a paper-mache Daruma tumbler doll in order to enlist its services in helping them persevere towards their own goals or achievements.  The dolls are sold with unpainted eyes, allowing the new owner to paint in one eye to symbolize the start of a new goal or venture.  The doll is then placed in a prominent place within the home or at work in order to remind the owner to keep after their aim.  Japanese students especially utilize Daruma to motivate them with their studies; placing a one-eyed Daruma before them on their desk as motivation to work hard and make the grade.  Only after the goal is achieved will the owner then paint in the second eye, symbolizing a realized goal.  Daruma dolls which have completed their jobs as perseverance role models are normally then brought to a temple to be burned during special ceremonies set aside for this purpose.  The last images below are various representations of Daruma found at a Zen temple near our home in Japan.

item code: R2S4-0004160
ship code: L1650

Description

Tiny (please see size information below) hand-painted wooden Daruma figurine.  The little Daruma-san is in good condition with no chips or cracks though it does have some marks and scratches from handling and past display.  This Daruma figure is less than 30 years old and was acquired in the historic city of Shizuoka, Japan near the foot of Mt. Fuji.  Please read below to learn about the history and legend of Daruma.

Size:
Height: 0.7 inches (1.7 centimeters)
Weight: 0.4 ounces (1 grams)

Important note:
Images of the Daruma items which we list are often uploaded to our Daruma Blog which is an on-line gallery of unique and interesting Daruma items.  The purpose of this blog is strictly to share images of some of the wonderful Daruma we encounter in the course of our work, and to provide a digital archive to preserve these images into the future.  If you purchase a Daruma item from us and do not want a digital copy of your Daruma displayed in the photo blog or archive then please simply send us an email indicating your preference and we will promptly remove the item images.

Click here to see more Daruma items!
Click here to see additional treasures from Japan!

More about Daruma

“Life falls down seven times, yet gets up eight…”  This popular Japanese proverb is commonly associated with the Indian Buddhist sage Daruma.  Daruma is the more familiar name of the historical Buddhist monk Bodhidarma, who lived sometime during the fifth or sixth century AD.  Daruma is credited with the founding of the Zen sect of Buddhism, which he is reputed to have introduced into China during his travels there.  Some of the legends surrounding this figure include tales that he achieved enlightenment or satori only after meditating in a cave for seven years without blinking or moving his eyes.  Another story tells that his enlightenment occurred within a temple in China where he spent his seven years sitting in a room staring at a wall.  Apparently at some point during his long meditation Daruma became so overcome with fatigue that he cut off his eyelids in anger and tossed them to the ground.  These are reputed to have then sprouted into China’s first green tea plants!  It is said that Daruma’s long meditation caused his arms and legs to wither and fall off, leaving him as an armless, legless and eyelidless (yet enlightened) Bodhidarma…  The Japanese love this story and admire Daruma for his spirit and determination, and each new year many Japanese will buy a paper-mache Daruma tumbler doll in order to enlist its services in helping them persevere towards their own goals or achievements.  The dolls are sold with unpainted eyes, allowing the new owner to paint in one eye to symbolize the start of a new goal or venture.  The doll is then placed in a prominent place within the home or at work in order to remind the owner to keep after their aim.  Japanese students especially utilize Daruma to motivate them with their studies; placing a one-eyed Daruma before them on their desk as motivation to work hard and make the grade.  Only after the goal is achieved will the owner then paint in the second eye, symbolizing a realized goal.  Daruma dolls which have completed their jobs as perseverance role models are normally then brought to a temple to be burned during special ceremonies set aside for this purpose.  The last images below are various representations of Daruma found at a Zen temple near our home in Japan.

item code: R2S4-0004159
ship code: L1650

Description

Tiny (please see size information below) hand-painted wooden Daruma figurine.  The little Daruma-san is in good condition with no chips or cracks though it does have some marks and scratches from handling and past display.  This Daruma figure is less than 30 years old and was acquired in the historic city of Shizuoka, Japan near the foot of Mt. Fuji.  Please read below to learn about the history and legend of Daruma.

Size:
Height: 0.8 inches (2.0 centimeters)
Weight: 0.1 ounces (3 grams)

Important note:
Images of the Daruma items which we list are often uploaded to our Daruma Blog which is an on-line gallery of unique and interesting Daruma items.  The purpose of this blog is strictly to share images of some of the wonderful Daruma we encounter in the course of our work, and to provide a digital archive to preserve these images into the future.  If you purchase a Daruma item from us and do not want a digital copy of your Daruma displayed in the photo blog or archive then please simply send us an email indicating your preference and we will promptly remove the item images.

Click here to see more Daruma items!
Click here to see additional treasures from Japan!

More about Daruma

“Life falls down seven times, yet gets up eight…”  This popular Japanese proverb is commonly associated with the Indian Buddhist sage Daruma.  Daruma is the more familiar name of the historical Buddhist monk Bodhidarma, who lived sometime during the fifth or sixth century AD.  Daruma is credited with the founding of the Zen sect of Buddhism, which he is reputed to have introduced into China during his travels there.  Some of the legends surrounding this figure include tales that he achieved enlightenment or satori only after meditating in a cave for seven years without blinking or moving his eyes.  Another story tells that his enlightenment occurred within a temple in China where he spent his seven years sitting in a room staring at a wall.  Apparently at some point during his long meditation Daruma became so overcome with fatigue that he cut off his eyelids in anger and tossed them to the ground.  These are reputed to have then sprouted into China’s first green tea plants!  It is said that Daruma’s long meditation caused his arms and legs to wither and fall off, leaving him as an armless, legless and eyelidless (yet enlightened) Bodhidarma…  The Japanese love this story and admire Daruma for his spirit and determination, and each new year many Japanese will buy a paper-mache Daruma tumbler doll in order to enlist its services in helping them persevere towards their own goals or achievements.  The dolls are sold with unpainted eyes, allowing the new owner to paint in one eye to symbolize the start of a new goal or venture.  The doll is then placed in a prominent place within the home or at work in order to remind the owner to keep after their aim.  Japanese students especially utilize Daruma to motivate them with their studies; placing a one-eyed Daruma before them on their desk as motivation to work hard and make the grade.  Only after the goal is achieved will the owner then paint in the second eye, symbolizing a realized goal.  Daruma dolls which have completed their jobs as perseverance role models are normally then brought to a temple to be burned during special ceremonies set aside for this purpose.  The last images below are various representations of Daruma found at a Zen temple near our home in Japan.

item code: R2S4-0004158
ship code: L1650

Description

Tiny (please see size information below) hand-painted wooden Daruma figurine.  The little Daruma-san is in good condition with no chips or cracks though it does have some marks and scratches from handling and past display.  This Daruma figure is less than 30 years old and was acquired in the historic city of Shizuoka, Japan near the foot of Mt. Fuji.  Please read below to learn about the history and legend of Daruma.

Size:
Height: 0.8 inches (2.0 centimeters)
 Weight: 0.1 ounces (3 grams)

Important note:
Images of the Daruma items which we list are often uploaded to our Daruma Blog which is an on-line gallery of unique and interesting Daruma items.  The purpose of this blog is strictly to share images of some of the wonderful Daruma we encounter in the course of our work, and to provide a digital archive to preserve these images into the future.  If you purchase a Daruma item from us and do not want a digital copy of your Daruma displayed in the photo blog or archive then please simply send us an email indicating your preference and we will promptly remove the item images.

Click here to see more Daruma items!
Click here to see additional treasures from Japan!

More about Daruma

“Life falls down seven times, yet gets up eight…”  This popular Japanese proverb is commonly associated with the Indian Buddhist sage Daruma.  Daruma is the more familiar name of the historical Buddhist monk Bodhidarma, who lived sometime during the fifth or sixth century AD.  Daruma is credited with the founding of the Zen sect of Buddhism, which he is reputed to have introduced into China during his travels there.  Some of the legends surrounding this figure include tales that he achieved enlightenment or satori only after meditating in a cave for seven years without blinking or moving his eyes.  Another story tells that his enlightenment occurred within a temple in China where he spent his seven years sitting in a room staring at a wall.  Apparently at some point during his long meditation Daruma became so overcome with fatigue that he cut off his eyelids in anger and tossed them to the ground.  These are reputed to have then sprouted into China’s first green tea plants!  It is said that Daruma’s long meditation caused his arms and legs to wither and fall off, leaving him as an armless, legless and eyelidless (yet enlightened) Bodhidarma…  The Japanese love this story and admire Daruma for his spirit and determination, and each new year many Japanese will buy a paper-mache Daruma tumbler doll in order to enlist its services in helping them persevere towards their own goals or achievements.  The dolls are sold with unpainted eyes, allowing the new owner to paint in one eye to symbolize the start of a new goal or venture.  The doll is then placed in a prominent place within the home or at work in order to remind the owner to keep after their aim.  Japanese students especially utilize Daruma to motivate them with their studies; placing a one-eyed Daruma before them on their desk as motivation to work hard and make the grade.  Only after the goal is achieved will the owner then paint in the second eye, symbolizing a realized goal.  Daruma dolls which have completed their jobs as perseverance role models are normally then brought to a temple to be burned during special ceremonies set aside for this purpose.  The last images below are various representations of Daruma found at a Zen temple near our home in Japan.

item code: R2S4-0004157
 ship code: L1650

Description

Small Japanese wooden kokeshi doll shaped like the head of Daruma with five smaller Daruma teeth.  This interesting figure is less than 40 years old and is in good condition with some small marks and scratches from handling and slight discoloration from age and display.  Please read below to learn about Daruma-san as well as the history of kokeshi dolls, one of Japan’s most unique and distinctive folk crafts.

“Life falls down seven times, yet gets up eight…”  This popular Japanese proverb is commonly associated with the Indian Buddhist sage Daruma.  Daruma is the more familiar name of the historical Buddhist monk Bodhidarma, who lived sometime during the fifth or sixth century AD.  Daruma is credited with the founding of the Zen sect of Buddhism, which he is reputed to have introduced into China during his travels there.  Some of the legends surrounding this figure include tales that he achieved enlightenment or satori only after meditating in a cave for seven years without blinking or moving his eyes.  Another story tells that his enlightenment occurred within a temple in China where he spent his seven years sitting in a room staring at a wall.  Apparently at some point during his long meditation Daruma became so overcome with fatigue that he cut off his eyelids in anger and tossed them to the ground.  These are reputed to have then sprouted into China’s first green tea plants!  It is said that Daruma’s long meditation caused his arms and legs to wither and fall off, leaving him as an armless, legless and eyelidless (yet enlightened) Bodhidarma…  The Japanese love this story and admire Daruma for his spirit and determination, and each new year many Japanese will buy a paper-mache Daruma tumbler doll in order to enlist its services in helping them persevere towards their own goals or achievements.  The dolls are sold with unpainted eyes, allowing the new owner to paint in one eye to symbolize the start of a new goal or venture.  The doll is then placed in a prominent place within the home or at work in order to remind the owner to keep after their aim.  Japanese students especially utilize Daruma to motivate them with their studies; placing a one-eyed Daruma before them on their desk as motivation to work hard and make the grade.  Only after the goal is achieved will the owner then paint in the second eye, symbolizing a realized goal.  Daruma dolls which have completed their jobs as perseverance role models are normally then brought to a temple to be burned during special ceremonies set aside for this purpose.  The last images below are various representations of Daruma found at a Zen temple near our home in Japan.

Size:
Height: 1.8 inches (4.7 centimeters)
Weight: 1.2 ounces (33 grams)

Important note:
Images of the kokeshi we list are often uploaded to our Japan Vintage Kokeshi Blog which is an on-line gallery of unique and interesting kokeshi dolls.  The purpose of this blog is strictly to share images of some of the wonderful dolls we encounter in the course of our work, and to provide a digital archive to preserve these images into the future.  If you purchase a kokeshi from us and do not want a digital copy of your doll displayed in the photo blog or archive then please simply send us an email indicating your preference and we will promptly remove the image.

Click here to see more kokeshi!
Click here to see additional Daruma items!
Click here to see other Japanese dolls!
Click here to see additional treasures from Japan!

More about Kokeshi

Kokeshi wooden dolls are one of the most unique and interesting of Japan’s many traditional folk crafts.  Originating in the early 19th century in the northern spa towns of Miyagi prefecture, kokeshi are thought to have first been produced as toys for children from leftover bits of scrap wood.  These early dolls were made by craftsmen who earned their living producing other types of woodcraft, but who eventually began to create kokeshi to be sold as souvenirs in the area’s many local hot spring resorts.  Over time the craft was refined, with many regional varieties appearing reflecting a wide range of technical and artistic variation.  Today there are several schools of kokeshi design led by master craftsmen who often pass their trade to succeeding generations within their own family.

When collecting kokeshi it is important to note that you will likely encounter two main types; dolls which are made by artists and those which are mass-produced to be sold as souvenirs.  The former are usually one-of-a-kind originals created by dedicated artisans who take their work very seriously and place great emphasis on traditional design and appearance.  The other type of kokeshi are those which are manufactured specifically to be sold as souvenirs of famous or interesting places such as resorts or hot springs.  These are produced en-mass, and while often attractive and interesting memorabilia they are not as frequently sought after by collectors and usually command a lower selling price.  How can you determine if a kokeshi is an ‘artist’ or ‘craftsman’ style doll?  This is actually quite easy as artist dolls are normally signed (on the bottom) by the maker, and may have no other writing on the body of the doll besides decorative calligraphy.  Souvenir types on the other hand are normally unsigned and may have the name of the place which sold them conspicuously visible on the body of the doll.  Collectors of Kokeshi typically place special emphasis on the facial quality of the dolls, desiring certain types – gentle or mischievous for example – over others.  One interesting Japanese Kokeshi collector we previously met expressed a preference for newer dolls over older ones, fearing the older dolls may be haunted.

item code: R4S4-0004532
ship code: L1650

Description

Antique Japanese porcelain statue depicting the Daruma who is regarded as the founder of the Zen sect of Buddhism.  The statue is in good condition with no chips or cracks though there are marks and scratches from handling and the statue wears a darkened patina of age.  This Daruma figure dates from the mid to late Japanese Showa period (1926-1989) or before and was acquired in the historic city of Shizuoka, Japan near the foot of Mt. Fuji.  Please read below to learn about the history and legend of Daruma.

Size:
Height: 5.3 inches (13.7 centimeters)
Weight: 3.6 ounces (103 grams)

Important note:
Images of the Daruma items which we list are often uploaded to our Daruma Blog which is an on-line gallery of unique and interesting Daruma items.  The purpose of this blog is strictly to share images of some of the wonderful Daruma we encounter in the course of our work, and to provide a digital archive to preserve these images into the future.  If you purchase a Daruma item from us and do not want a digital copy of your Daruma displayed in the photo blog or archive then please simply send us an email indicating your preference and we will promptly remove the item images.

Click here to see more Daruma items!
Click here to see additional treasures from Japan!

More about Daruma

“Life falls down seven times, yet gets up eight…”  This popular Japanese proverb is commonly associated with the Indian Buddhist sage Daruma.  Daruma is the more familiar name of the historical Buddhist monk Bodhidarma, who lived sometime during the fifth or sixth century AD.  Daruma is credited with the founding of the Zen sect of Buddhism, which he is reputed to have introduced into China during his travels there.  Some of the legends surrounding this figure include tales that he achieved enlightenment or satori only after meditating in a cave for seven years without blinking or moving his eyes.  Another story tells that his enlightenment occurred within a temple in China where he spent his seven years sitting in a room staring at a wall.  Apparently at some point during his long meditation Daruma became so overcome with fatigue that he cut off his eyelids in anger and tossed them to the ground.  These are reputed to have then sprouted into China’s first green tea plants!  It is said that Daruma’s long meditation caused his arms and legs to wither and fall off, leaving him as an armless, legless and eyelidless (yet enlightened) Bodhidarma…  The Japanese love this story and admire Daruma for his spirit and determination, and each new year many Japanese will buy a paper-mache Daruma tumbler doll in order to enlist its services in helping them persevere towards their own goals or achievements.  The dolls are sold with unpainted eyes, allowing the new owner to paint in one eye to symbolize the start of a new goal or venture.  The doll is then placed in a prominent place within the home or at work in order to remind the owner to keep after their aim.  Japanese students especially utilize Daruma to motivate them with their studies; placing a one-eyed Daruma before them on their desk as motivation to work hard and make the grade.  Only after the goal is achieved will the owner then paint in the second eye, symbolizing a realized goal.  Daruma dolls which have completed their jobs as perseverance role models are normally then brought to a temple to be burned during special ceremonies set aside for this purpose.  The last images below are various representations of Daruma found at a Zen temple near our home in Japan.

item code: R1S5-0004469
ship code: L1650

Description

Hand-made Japanese Daruma tumbler dolls drying after receiving an application of paint.  The faces of the dolls will be applied in subsequent steps.  These hand-crafted and painted Daruma figure was made in Shizuoka, Japan by a small Japanese family who specialize in the old style manufacture of these very unique dolls.  The figures are created in the old family workshop where each doll is formed of papier-mache on a hand-carved wooden mold before being moved to an open air courtyard to dry and harden in the sun.  The doll is then cut from the mold requiring yet another layer of wet papier-mache to seal the cut.  Once more the figure is allowed to dry before being taken into the shop to be hand-painted red and flesh tone with dark black beard and eyebrows and golden body accents.  The only area of the doll left unpainted are the eyes in order that the person who buys the Daruma may use the unpainted eyes to help them achieve some important goal.  Each doll is cleverly weighted on the bottom allowing Daruma to right himself when tipped.

“Life falls down seven times, yet gets up eight…”  This popular Japanese proverb is commonly associated with the Indian Buddhist sage Daruma.  Daruma is the more familiar name of the historical Buddhist monk Bodhidarma, who lived sometime during the fifth or sixth century AD.  Daruma is credited with the founding of the Zen sect of Buddhism, which he is reputed to have introduced into China during his travels there.  Some of the legends surrounding this figure include tales that he achieved enlightenment or satori only after meditating in a cave for seven years without blinking or moving his eyes.  Another story tells that his enlightenment occurred within a temple in China where he spent his seven years sitting in a room staring at a wall.  Apparently at some point during his long meditation Daruma became so overcome with fatigue that he tore off his eyelids in anger and tossed them to the ground.  These are reputed to have then sprouted into China’s first green tea plants!  It is said that Daruma’s long meditation caused his arms and legs to wither and fall off, leaving him as an armless, legless and eyelidless (yet enlightened) Bodhidarma…  The Japanese love this story and admire Daruma for his spirit and determination, and each new year many Japanese will buy a paper-mache Daruma tumbler doll in order to enlist its services in helping them persevere towards their own goals.  The dolls are sold with unpainted eyes, allowing the new owner to paint in one eye to symbolize the start of a new goal or venture.  The doll is then placed in a prominent place within the home or at work in order to remind the owner to keep after their aim.  Japanese students especially utilize Daruma to motivate them with their studies; placing a one-eyed Daruma before them on their desk to remind them to work hard and make the grade.  Only after the goal is achieved will the owner then paint in the second eye, symbolizing a realized goal.  Daruma dolls which have completed their jobs as perseverance role models are normally then brought to a temple to be burned during special ceremonies reserved for this purpose.

Click here to see more Daruma items!
Click here to see other Buddhist items!
Click here to see additional treasures from Japan!

Description

Small, antique Japanese ceramic Daruma statue in good condition with some marks and scratches from handling and a darkened patina of age.  The statue has some small pieces of metal sticking out of the top of the head which cause us to wonder if it may have once included a loop on the top of the head.  This Daruma figure dates from the mid to late Japanese Showa period (1926-1989) and was acquired in the historic city of Shizuoka, Japan near the foot of Mt. Fuji.  Please read below to learn about the history and legend of Daruma.

Size:
Height: 2.0 inches (5.0 centimeters)
Weight: 1.3 ounces (38 grams)

Important note:
Images of the Daruma items which we list are often uploaded to our Daruma Blog which is an on-line gallery of unique and interesting Daruma items.  The purpose of this blog is strictly to share images of some of the wonderful Daruma we encounter in the course of our work, and to provide a digital archive to preserve these images into the future.  If you purchase a Daruma item from us and do not want a digital copy of your Daruma displayed in the photo blog or archive then please simply send us an email indicating your preference and we will promptly remove the item images.

Click here to see more Daruma items!
Click here to see additional treasures from Japan!

More about Daruma

“Life falls down seven times, yet gets up eight…”  This popular Japanese proverb is commonly associated with the Indian Buddhist sage Daruma.  Daruma is the more familiar name of the historical Buddhist monk Bodhidarma, who lived sometime during the fifth or sixth century AD.  Daruma is credited with the founding of the Zen sect of Buddhism, which he is reputed to have introduced into China during his travels there.  Some of the legends surrounding this figure include tales that he achieved enlightenment or satori only after meditating in a cave for seven years without blinking or moving his eyes.  Another story tells that his enlightenment occurred within a temple in China where he spent his seven years sitting in a room staring at a wall.  Apparently at some point during his long meditation Daruma became so overcome with fatigue that he cut off his eyelids in anger and tossed them to the ground.  These are reputed to have then sprouted into China’s first green tea plants!  It is said that Daruma’s long meditation caused his arms and legs to wither and fall off, leaving him as an armless, legless and eyelidless (yet enlightened) Bodhidarma…  The Japanese love this story and admire Daruma for his spirit and determination, and each new year many Japanese will buy a paper-mache Daruma tumbler doll in order to enlist its services in helping them persevere towards their own goals or achievements.  The dolls are sold with unpainted eyes, allowing the new owner to paint in one eye to symbolize the start of a new goal or venture.  The doll is then placed in a prominent place within the home or at work in order to remind the owner to keep after their aim.  Japanese students especially utilize Daruma to motivate them with their studies; placing a one-eyed Daruma before them on their desk as motivation to work hard and make the grade.  Only after the goal is achieved will the owner then paint in the second eye, symbolizing a realized goal.  Daruma dolls which have completed their jobs as perseverance role models are normally then brought to a temple to be burned during special ceremonies set aside for this purpose.  The last images below are various representations of Daruma found at a Zen temple near our home in Japan.

More photos below!

item code: R2S5-0004274
ship code: L1650