Daruma – temple and history

A short ride outside the city of Takasaki is Shorinzan Daruma-ji Temple and past their tori gate and up their steep stairs you are greeted by a sea of ​​Darumas. Big and small, red, purple, green and gold, here gather those who have achieved their goals (note that both eyes are filled). Since 1697, this temple has been a place for Daruma and at the beginning of each new year , the Shorinzan Nanakusa Taisai Daruma Market Festival is held where people buy their Daruma for the year. One eye is filled in, you make your wish, goal or promise and after it has been achieved, you fill in the other. At the end of the year, you bring the Daruman back to burn it with others who have achieved their dreams.

A Daruma can come in a variety of colors and stand for different things. The classic red color that is most common stands for good luck and happiness, but it is also common to give a white one that symbolizes love as a wedding gift.

Daruman is considered to be an image of Bodhidharma, a fourth-century Chinese Buddhist monk. Bodhidharma is said to have meditated for nine years straight, causing his arms and legs to fall off, leaving only a head and torso.
It is often believed that having both eyes filled means that your eyes are now open to the truth of the universe, which happened to Bodhidharma when he attained enlightenment. The other belief is that he fell asleep seven years into his meditation and was so embarrassed that he cut off his eyelids to avoid it happening again.