Weekly Shiritori #33

Last week’s post was about Umeda (うめだ / 梅田), so this week I need to start with  だ (da). A big thank you to lovelycomplex22 for suggesting daruma (達磨) and japanaustralia for suggesting Dazaifu (太宰府) in Kyushu, dango (団子 / Japanese dumplings) and daibutsu (big Buddha statues) – which you know I love. I’ve written about daibutsu a lot before though, so this week I decided to write about…

Daruma (だるま / 達磨)

©Gunma Prefecture/© JNTO

If you visit Japan it’s highly likely you’ll come across these little (and sometimes not so little) statues in souvenir shops and at shrines and temples. They look a little bit scary, but they make great, traditional souvenirs and gifts.

Souvenir shop in Narita

© Yasufumi Nishi/© JNTO

Daruma are modelled after Bodhidharma, the founder of the Zen sect of Buddhism, and are usually red (although other colours do exist). Daruma are toys, but are also considered to be good luck charms. They are seen as a symbol of perseverance and good luck, which makes them a popular gift of encouragement. Daruma are also popular at New Year when people are setting goals for the coming year. The dolls are usually made from papier-mâché, and they are hollow, often with a weight at the bottom so that they can’t fall down (like a Weeble or roly-poly toy). However, they shouldn’t be confused with Japan’s original roly-poly toys – okiagari-koboshi (起き上がり小法師), which are also good luck charms symbolising perseverance and resilience.

Okiagari-koboshi and badge from Fukushima

Although okiagari-koboshi and daruma are similar, the original okiagari toy is said to have come from Ming China, around 1368 – 1644. However, the two objects have the same sort of meaning – never give up. A phrase which is often seen alongside daruma is “Nanakorobi yaoki” (七転び八起き), which means “Seven times down, eight times up”. I like this sentiment, and I think it’s one we could all benefit from remembering.

One of the interesting features of the daruma is its eyes. When you buy a daruma the eyes are blank and white. The idea is that when you get the doll and set your goal, you fill in one of the eyes. Then, when you have achieved whatever it is you’re trying to achieve, you fill in the other eye.

(Image source)

There is an annual daruma festival or ‘market’, called Daruma-ichi (達磨市), held annually by the city of Takasaki in Gunma Prefecture (the birthplace of the daruma doll) on January 6th and 7th. At the festival people can buy new daruma dolls to set their goals for the year.

Takasaki’s Shorinzan Daruma Temple (少林山達磨寺, Shōrinzan Darumaji)

(Image source: Japan Guide)

At the end of the year, it is traditional in Japan to burn your good luck charms, and that includes daruma. Personally, I’ve always kept my lucky charms because they make great souvenirs, but most people will take their charms back to the temple where they were purchased and burn them. For daruma, there is a ceremony called Daruma Kuyo (だるま供養) which is usually held once a year right after New Year’s Day. The most famous ones are held at the Nishi-Arai Daishi Temple in Tokyo and the Dairyu-ji Temple in Gifu.

Dairyuji (Gifu) 大龍寺 (岐阜市)

(Image source)

Before the Anime Expo 2011 in LA, Alice and Sean of Super Happy Awesome Fun Time with Sean and Alice had the privilege of  visiting the daruma factory in Takasaki, where they were able to watch a master craftsman making special daruma for the Expo by hand (all daruma are made by hand, which is just amazing!). Check out their trip to the factory here, or watch the video below:

In all my time in Japan I somehow managed to not buy myself a proper daruma, but I do have one special little pink daruma doll which came free with some Kit Kats:

Next time I visit Japan I will have to get myself a proper daruma doll though!

Daruma dolls at Shorinzan Daruma Temple (少林山達磨寺, Shōrinzan Darumaji) in Gunma Prefecture

(Image source)

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Daruma (だるま) ends with ま (ma), so next week I will be looking for a noun beginning with “ma”. If you have any suggestions, please leave them below and I’ll give you a mention next week! And, don’t forget, no words ending in ん!  (^_^)v