This section is a little about him and Zen, and the two stories intertwine. Daruma’s story often sounds to me very American, or at least it could be put together in a Hollywood movie—a self determined individual struggles against the main stream to find his own place in society which becomes the basis to effect the whole world for centuries. These incidents that follow are recorded in history, however they may or may not have happened or the stories may have been altered or embellished, but we don’t know and its probably not important. My impression is that Daruma was said to have come to China in the late 6th Century and that much of the (written) history of Daruma and Zen was put together in the 8th Century—its like a Monday quarterback.
Above is a little good luck charm, called ema, someone in Japan might buy at a temple. This one I got at Jindaiji in Chofu, which is a Tendai temple not a Zen temple. However every year they have a Daruma Festival where people come and buy darumas and fill in eyes and light incense and eat soba. Daurma, or perhaps more precise, the image of Daruma, is an integal part of Japanese culture.
The head band reads “Nana-Korobi Ya-Oki” or translated “seven times down, eight times up”. The basic paper mache daruma doll is weighted in the bottom so that if tipped on its side it will right itself, thus when it goes down by itself it goes back up again.
