Daruma dolls are sold without the eyes painted in. At New Years time, before getting married or other important junctions in life, Japanese people buy a Daruma doll, make a wish and paint the left eye. Then put the doll on a shelf or family altar. If during that year they are able to achieve the goal, then they paint the right eye, giving thanks.
Though considered a toy by some, Daruma has a design that is rich in symbolism and is regarded more as a talisman of good luck to the Japanese. They are seen as a symbol of perseverance and good luck, making them a popular gift of encouragement.
Daruma were modeled after Bodhidharma, the founder of the Zen tradition of Buddhism. According to one tradition, Bodhidharma gained a reputation for, among other things, his practice of wall-gazing. Legend claims that he sat facing a wall in meditation for a period of nine years without moving, which caused his legs and arms to fall off from atrophy. Another popular legend is that after falling asleep during his nine-year meditation he became angry with himself and cut off his eyelids to avoid ever falling asleep again.
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