A daruma doll is a traditional Japanese good luck charm that is often seen in business establishments and homes.
The round, red-painted figurine has a blank face without eyes, symbolizing the fact that one’s future is not yet determined.
To use a daruma doll, you first make a wish, then paint in one eye. Once your wish comes true, you paint in the other eye.
In This Post – We’ll go over the history of daruma dolls and how to use them for your own wishes and goals.
Table of Contents
What Is A Daruma Doll?
A Daruma doll is a popular Japanese charm used to represent good luck.
The dolls are traditionally crafted from red paper-mâché called washi and have cylindrical bodies.
They typically feature a blank face with no eyes, symbolizing that the future is not yet determined.
Daruma dolls are often seen in business establishments and homes as a show of good luck.
Daruma dolls are said to represent Bodhidharma and his dedication to meditation and achieving his goals.
The dolls first became popular during the Edo period in Japan, when they were given as gifts to young children.
Today, Daruma dolls are still given as gifts but are also used as a way to achieve personal goals.
|
Best Set
|
Top Pick
|
Best Value
|
|
4.5
|
4.9
|
4.9
|
|
$26.80
|
$19.99
|
$29.99
|
How Do You Use a Daruma Doll?
On New Year’s Day, the eyes of one Daruma must be painted on (the eyes are normally left unpainted). After that, a wish or objective is assigned to the Daruma, and it is either kept at home or at work.
To use a Daruma doll, you first make a wish or goal.
Once you have determined what you want to achieve, you then paint in one eye of the doll.
After putting in your hard work and accomplishing your goal, you then paint in the second eye of the Daruma.
This is a way of symbolizing that you have achieved your goal and it is now complete.
Daruma dolls are named after a Buddhist monk who lived in the sixth century.
The monk, known as Bodhidharma, was said to have meditated for nine years without moving, eventually falling asleep.
When He Awoke – He was so angry with himself that he cut off his own eyelids to prevent himself from sleeping again. He is said to have then thrown his eyelids to the ground, where they sprouted and became the first tea plants.
If you have a goal that you want to achieve, consider using a Daruma doll to help motivate you.
Pick a doll that represents your goal, and paint in one eye after you have made progress.
Once you have achieved your goal, paint in the second eye of the Daruma.
This is a fun and unique way to stay motivated and keep track of your progress.
Booking.comWhere Do You Place Daruma?
Daruma dolls are often placed in business establishments as a sign of good luck.
Many businesses will have a Daruma on display near the entrance or in the office, and it is also not uncommon to see them in people’s homes.
In terms of placement, there are really no hard and fast rules.
Some people prefer to keep their Daruma in a place where they will see it regularly as a reminder to stay focused on their goal, while others prefer to put it in a more hidden spot as a sign of respect.
Do You Have to Burn a Daruma Doll?
At the end of each year, it’s customary to burn the daruma and acquire a whole new one if a wish hasn’t been fulfilled or a goal has not been accomplished.
As a consequence, it is thought that the future of one’s desire will be linked to the new doll as a result of this action.
However, there are some who choose to keep their daruma dolls and reuse them year after year.
While some believe that this practice will bring them bad luck, others believe that it is a sign of respect for the daruma.
This is a completely personal preference and is often done if the goal or wish is something that will take more than one year to achieve.
Daimonya is one of the leading Daruma artisan families based in Takasaki, Japan–the birthplace and cultural center of Daruma.
How Do You Pray to Daruma Doll?
When you pray, the eye over which you’re praying is normally the left side (the daruma doll’s left eye), and when your prayers are answered, you go back to the other side (the daruma doll’s right eye).
The daruma doll is not just for praying for something, but it is also to keep your wishes in mind.
It is a way of making sure that you don’t forget about your goals and continue to work hard so that the goal can be accomplished.
There are different ways that you can pray to a daruma doll, but the most common way is to simply hold the doll in your hands and close your eyes while you focus on your wish or goal.
You can also write your wish or goal down on a piece of paper and put it under the doll.
Another way to pray to a daruma doll is to light a candle and place it in front of the doll. You can then say your prayers out loud or in your head.
Whatever way you choose to pray to a daruma doll, the most important thing is that you believe in your heart that your prayers will be answered.
Conclusion
How Do You Use a Daruma Doll? The Daruma Doll has a rich tradition of use in Japan.
The doll is often given as gifts to people and it symbolizes Bodhidharma’s dedication to meditation, hard work, and achieving personal goals.
Today the Japanese dolls are still used for good luck but also serve as symbols of personal achievement.
Read Next
- Japanese Wedding Traditions (Venue, Dress & Food)
- Kintsugi: Perfectly Imperfect Ceramic Art (with 8 Examples)
- 5 Best Japanese Makeup Brushes for a Flawless Finish
- Maiko Vs Geisha Compared: What Are the Differences?
- Japanese String Instruments (9 Famous Ones)
- Best Onsen Destinations In Japan (10 Top Locations)
