Japanese Dolls and Crafts : Kimura Ohshido

Daruma is abbreviation of the bodhidaruma who is the priest with a famous Zen (Buddhism). The red clothes show the meaning of the amulet. In Japan, there is a custom to paint one eye to make a wish, and when it comes true, paint the other one. The order to paint eyes is not decided but it is traditional to paint the left eye first and the right eye is left blank until the wish is fulfilled. However, the order is reversed at the time of election.