japanese antique daruma figure in red robe, ceramic daruma figurine, japanese lucky charm

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An old ceramic figure of Daruma, the founder of Zen Buddhism. In typical style, the seated Daruma has dark facial hair, a beard and big, piercing eyes. A hooded red robe is draped around his body. Red was believed to ward off illness caused by the smallpox gods. Daruma is now regarded as a lucky item for protection from disease and also to help in the realization of goals.

Daruma carries his white Hossu; a whisk used to flick away mosquitoes. Hossu were used by high ranking priests in India, from where Daruma originated. In Zen Buddhism, it symbolizes the swishing away of delusive thoughts and ideas. Daruma carried such a whisk to flick away the mosquitoes around him and the ‘spiritual mosquitoes’ in the minds of his disciples.

Daruma figures, like this one, were placed on the kamdana (household altar) in country homes for good luck, a good harvest and prosperity.

The ceramic figure was made early in the Showa Era and is in good structural condition. There is fading and wear to the paintwork, giving it the charm and warmth of an antique item.

- measures 8 cm (3.1”) tall x 14 cm (5.5”) wide.
- weighs 380 gm.

(listing for daruma only)

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ABOUT DARUMA 
The Daruma of present day Japan actually finds it’s origins in an Indian Buddhist monk named Bodhidharma. Bodhidharma was the founding patriarch of the Chan/Zen school and he eventually became revered as an equal to the Buddha himself.

He went to China, to convert the Chinese, at the beginning of the sixth century and settled in Song Shan. Here it is said he practiced meditation for nine years facing a wall. Bodhidharma’s lofty teaching won him a few disciples, but also some powerful enemies, and he was eventually poisoned by two rivals. Soon after his death a Chinese emissary claimed to have met him. When Bodhidharma’s tomb was opened, it was found empty. He was deemed a Daoist Immortal.

According to a later Japanese tradition, Bodhidharma never returned to India but traveled on to Japan, where he was associated with the Tendai school and Shotoku Taishi (517-77). From the Tenadai school and the ‘one mind precepts’ of Bodhidharma (Daruma isshinkai) the first Zen school emerged, called the ‘Daruma school.’ There is a Daruma Temple at the foot of Mt. Kataoka; a monastery associated with Shotoku Taishi.

By the mid Edo era, the Indian patriarch of Chan/Zen had come a long way. He was an extremely popular deity and was now seen as a protector of children and bringer of good luck.

He was represented as a legless, tumbling talisman doll, that ‘falls seven times and rises eight times,’(nana korobi ya oki). This okiagari (falling and rising) form of Daruma comes from the belief that Bodhidharma, after sitting in meditation for nine years in a cave came to lose his legs.

This tumbling Daruma also lent itself to sexual symbolism, and until the Meiji period, phallic forms of Daruma in stone or paper mache were sold. Stone deity statues were often placed in the country at crossroads and they were associated with sexuality and fertility. These deity stones were called dosojin.

The name ‘Daruma’ was also a nickname for prostitutes in the Edo Era. Like the doll, these specialists of tumble could raise the energy of their customers! In ukiyoe Daruma was often presented in comical fashion in the company of a prostitute, sometimes even as a transvestite or as a woman. He was also a part of a couple called, ‘Mr. and Mrs. Daruma.’ The chubby Okame, (smiling woman who brings good luck to all) was often seen as his partner.

Daruma were initially good-luck objects (engimono) placed on the home altar (kamidana) to bring good harvests and prosperity to their owners.The okiagari Daruma soon became a popular symbol of perseverance, new beginnings and the attaining of one’s goal.

Daruma was also believed to help overcome illness rapidly. During the smallpox epidemic in the Edo period, Daruma had become a protector against smallpox. He was perceived as a god of smallpox (hosogami) but his role was to control the smallpox demons so they would not harm children. (hosogami were seen as the cause of epidemic diseases and eventually turned into protectors against these same diseases).

The Daruma doll was offered with other auspicious toys, like dogs to sick children. The color, symbolizing measles was important. The altar to the smallpox god was decorated with red paper strips, a daruma doll, and an owl and the sick child had to wear a red hood., just like Bodhidharma in his red robes with a red hood.

So Daruma has been represented in a variety of forms with much symbolism; the Buddhist monk, Bodhidharma, likened to the Buddha himself and responsible for starting Zen Buddhism, a crossroad deity associated with sexuality and fertility, a god of epidemics who ultimately protected children against disease, a god of good fortune, bringing good harvests and prosperity, and a god of perseverance, giving one the determination to achieve goals.