Wishing by painting the right eye of a daruma (Japanese wishing doll) comes true when the left eye is painted. The birthplace, Daruma Temple at Mount Shorinzan, is piled high with "fulfilled and retired" darumas.
Reported and photographed by reporter Lai Wenxuan / Gunma, Japan
Daruma dolls in Japan are like the God of Wealth in Taiwan—almost every household displays one as a mascot for good luck and blessings. When visiting the birthplace of daruma in Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture, you can't miss the origin site, "Mount Shorinzan Daruma Temple." The temple is remote and serene, and it's piled high with darumas that have "fulfilled their purpose and retired" after granting wishes. It's said that every New Year, people from all over Japan flock here to fulfill their vows and then buy new daruma to take home for prayers and blessings.
▲ Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, Japan—Mount Shorinzan Daruma Temple, the birthplace of daruma dolls.
▲ %The wish-granting place is where the daruma was first discovered. Many people will bring their fulfilled daruma back here and buy new ones to take home for prayers.
Speaking of the history of Mount Shorinzan Daruma Temple, the head priest says that over 200 years ago, a natural disaster and famine struck the area. The 9th-generation head monk, Tōyō, couldn't bear to see the suffering, so he taught local farmers how to make the "one-stroke daruma meditation figure." Because the local winter climate is very dry, perfect for making daruma dolls, the area became the top producer in Japan. In addition to being the birthplace of auspicious daruma, it also became the hometown of daruma.
▲ %The daruma temple has a solemn atmosphere, and visitors can feel a deep sense of peace here.
Before entering Daruma Temple, you must climb a long flight of stairs. Along the way, you’ll feel surrounded by greenery, tranquil and full of Zen. The temple’s buildings, such as the Guanyin Hall, Ruiyun Pavilion, and Xixin Pavilion, are all rich in history. Then, after climbing a short flight of stairs, you’ll finally reach the main prayer hall inside the temple—the Lingfu Hall.
▲ The eyebrows of a daruma doll symbolize a crane, a sign of longevity, while the beard represents a turtle. The eyes are left unpainted and are drawn in after making a wish.
%Visitors often paint the right eye of the daruma first.
Looking closely at the appearance of a daruma doll, its eyebrows symbolize a crane, a sign of longevity, while the beard represents a turtle. The eyes are left unpainted. In Japan, many households display a daruma doll as a mascot for good luck and blessings.
The way to make a wish with a daruma doll is to calm your mind, speak your wish to the daruma, and then paint in the right eye. Once a year passes or the wish is fulfilled, you can paint in the left eye. The head priest says that at the end of the year and during New Year, people from all over Japan flock to the temple to return the daruma that helped fulfill their wishes to the shrine for enshrinement, then buy new ones to make fresh wishes.
▲ %At the temple, there are many daruma dolls returned by worshippers after their wishes are fulfilled, piled up in small mountains.
On both sides of the Lingfu Hall, you can see piles of "fulfilled and retired" daruma dolls returned by worshippers, resembling small mountains. The red color of the daruma adds a splash of vibrancy to the otherwise serene temple. Every mid-January, the Daruma Temple holds a ceremony where all the returned daruma are gathered and burned together to thank Daruma for his blessings, ensuring the worshippers had a safe and smooth year.
▲ %Visitors can also take a fulfilled daruma home as a souvenir after their wish comes true.
Inside the temple, there is also a small Daruma Hall where various daruma dolls with different meanings and forms are displayed for visitors to see. Additionally, there is a gashapon-like fortune-drawing machine. When you turn the crank, a cute little daruma doll pops out, hiding a fortune slip inside, giving visitors a chance to test their luck. Moreover, the Daruma Temple offers a daruma painting experience, allowing you to paint your own personalized daruma to take home and treasure.
▲ Inside the temple, there is a small fortune-drawing machine with mini daruma dolls. Visitors can try their luck and take a small daruma home as a keepsake.
▲ Visiting the birthplace of daruma, Mount Shorinzan Daruma Temple. (Video/Reported and photographed by Lai Wenxuan)
Mount Shorinzan Daruma Temple
Address: 296-banchi, Hanataka-cho, Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture
Transportation: 18-minute walk from Gunma-Yawata, 15-minute taxi or 30-minute bus ride from Gunma-Takasaki
Share
This article is published by HowToTrip. Sharing and reposting are welcome — please credit the source.
Article URL: https://www.howtotrip.net/views-1804
Related Articles
- Shaoxing's "Grandpa Gourd" hangs the gourds back up: "If there are too many people, we'll interact less — just take a quick look from afar"
- Chinese authorities announce "reciprocal adjustment" to Japan visa fees — single-entry visa jumps from 2,250 to 16,750 yen!
- 旅客携带的“保健石”核辐射超标千倍，同机人员或遭殃！海关提醒！
- 深圳机场深夜通报！出现不明升空物，航班大面积延误！
- “拆盒洗了才说要钱！”高铁200克葡萄卖60元，12306回应！
- 买不了机票？出境被拒？登机被拦？一大波中国游客莫名成了“失信人”
- 不利天气和经济波动影响哥伦比亚咖啡市场
- 海边浴场回应冲脚淡水收费2元/30秒：明码标价！
- 舱门没关好就起飞？机翼出现问题？多个航班途中紧急折返！
- 感受大自然的馈赠！盘点世界十大唯美海岸线