Daruma & Hime Dolls on Shamisan

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Four (4) Daruma and and four (4) Hime or Princess Daruma Dolls with a Shamisan on a cryptomeria wood stand. Total of 8 dolls is a significant number relating to Daruma. There are three sizes of dolls, the largest measuring 1" and the shortest 5/8". The board measures 4-3/4" x 1-3/4" with an overall height of 2-3/4". One daruma doll has a paint chip missing, one has a small crack in the wood. The shamisan (muscial instrument) is missing it's strings and has a piece of wood missing where it was pushed onto a peg to hold it in place. There is remnants of a peg in the very back.

Daruma (Bodhidharma) was a Sage from India who lived in the 5th or 6th century, A.D. He is the founder of Zen Buddhism. There are many stories and legends about him. One of the most famous is the reason he is seen without legs or arms. He is said to have prayed or meditated for so many years that they fell off from non-use. It is said that he cut off his eyelids as he was so angry at himself for dozing off during mediation, ergo his large eyes. Paper mache daruma dolls often have no eyes drawn in. When you make a wish, you color in one eye and when it comes true, you color in the other. Often seen in sets of 8 which represent 7 times down and 8 times up. He is also bottom weighted so if knocked over, he rises back up. Placed inside the home, he symbolizes good luck and protection. A female version of Daruma is called "Hime" or Princess Daruma.

This product was added to our catalog on Friday 01 September, 2006.