Darumas represent the god Daruma or Dharma, son of the 28th Zen patriarch, who brought Zen enlightenment, and tea, to China and Japan. There are many artistic representations of Daruma as a monk or missionary, but the Japanese dolls are paper-maché roly-polys, which one buys with blank eyes so as to paint them in as one accomplishes some task. This custom may have originated as a thank-offering to the god for good Spring and Fall harvests; if he did not send a good harvest, he would remain blind or one-eyed. These dolls are still performing a significant cultural function.
There are many related types or versions of Daruma in the various localities of Japan, some of them designated as female--"ehime daruma," or "princess daruma." One type is made with a gofun face and rich fabrics like a kimekomi ningyo, but shaped like a Daruma; these often come in boy-girl pairs.
http://web-japan.org/atlas/crafts/cra05.html
http://sv01.amie.or.jp/daruma/sakuin.html
http://www.dollsofjapan.co.uk/daruma-doll.html
|
