Friday, December 31, 2010

Kawasaki Shrine Starts Selling Daruma for 2011!

Kawasaki Shrine that sees over 4 million visitors every New Year's holiday has started selling Daruma dolls.

Daruma dolls are sold to people for luck and good fortune... They are Buddhism's sort of "Goal" setters for companies and personal acheivements.


Dharma doll, is a hollow, round, Japanese doll modeled after Bodhidharma, the founder of the Zen sect of Buddhism. These dolls, though typically red and depicting a bearded man (Dharma), vary greatly in color and design depending on region and artist. Though considered an omocha, meaning toy, Daruma has a design that is rich in symbolism and is regarded more as a talisman of good luck to the Japanese. Daruma dolls are seen as a symbol of perseverance and good luck, making them a popular gift of encouragement. The doll has also been commercialized by many Buddhist temples to use alongside goal setting.


People usually color in the left eye with a black pen and then, when the year ends, if their goals were achieved, they have a celebration and color in the right eye.... 


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