Wedding Ceremony Daruma & Hime Dolls

Daruma and Hime (Princess Daruma) dolls posed in an old time Japanese wedding ceremony with the bride and groom sitting in the palanquin. The stand they sit on measures 8" x 1-3/8". The tallest point is 2". This set came from an elderly Daruma doll collector in Japan. The tallest doll measures 1" with the shortest measuring 5/8". Little age related soiling but in good condition.

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.

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Wedding Ceremony Daruma & Hime Dolls