A Daruma or rather Dharma doll is a small Japanese paper-mache doll which is painted a bright colour according to the luck it represents. These little dolls that I came across while in Japan fascinated me and I just had to get myself one. There are seven different “Dharmas” of Good Luck so I had to choose carefully.
- Purple for Appreciation
- Yellow for Prosperity
- Blue for Happiness
- Red for Dreams To Come True
- Pink for Smiles
- Orange for health
- Green for Luck
These little dolls are considered to bring good luck because they always come back to an upright position after being tipped over. They are all weighted at the bottom which makes this possible. Some Daruma actually have no eyes and look a bit spooky but I was told that they were “Wish” Daruma. You have to paint one eye in right after you receive it while wishing for something to come true. The other eye is then supposed to be painted when the wish is realized. I immediately bought myself a little bright red Dharma for Dreams To Come True quite excited about making this “wish”!
I am still waiting to paint in the second eye of my now little weird looking Dharma doll….
Hey! I’m flying to Japan in the end of october…do you remember the store where you bought this cute Dharmas?
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I am sure you are going to have a fabulous time in Japan, it is an amazing place!! Unfortunately I was there more than 10 years ago so can not recal where I bought them, sorry.
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I’ve seen these, but didn’t know anything about them. How cool.
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Sometimes its the story behind something that makes it worth buying, and only after I found out that these were little wish or luck dolls did I give in and buy one.
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These are so cute 🙂
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I agree!
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I’ve never heard of Dharma dolls but then again my knowledge of Japan is extremely limited, they are very cute and I am drawn to the Blue and Red dolls.
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Next time I am definitely going to buy myself a whole set, one of each colour, just in case……
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I love these good-luck daruma dolls. I bought one for my daughter in Tokyo when she was only three… She still has it.
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The are excellent Amy! It is a great gift for someone and a great way to constantly remind someone that you wish them good luck or that their dreams will come true!
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I love the idea of a little Daruma doll….perhaps I would go for the red for dreams to come true, or the orange for health (in the hope that I would be as healthy as possible given the constraints I already have!). 🙂
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They are very cute and I love all the little “luck” rituals the Japanese have. My little red Dharma doll is still in my room…..hopefully soon I will be able to draw in the second eye!
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