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Big Japanese Dorei clay bell in the form of Daruma-san, unknown date.

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    Posted 3 years ago

    mcheconi
    (41 items)

    Yes, he is frightening and wonderful at the same time. Even more when his eyes pop out of their orbits.

    I could not resist to give my wooden Daruma a companion so I found this impressive clay bell on eBay, offered by a Japanese seller. It is a Dorei bell and it is supposed to bring good luck and scare evil spirits with its sound.

    Daruma is the Japanese name of Bodhidharma, an Indian or Persian Budhist monk, responsible for transmitting the Zen Budhism to China. According to the legend, Bodhidharma stood still, seated and facing a wall, for nine years. His arms and legs fell off from atrophy. He fell asleep once during these nine years and to avoid it to happen again, he cut off his eyelids. Wow.

    He is a symbol of perseverance, self-control and good luck. This particular Daruma bares the word "Katsu!" in his belly, meaning "Keep it up!" or "Overcome!" and I think he is the perfect role model for us all during these crazy times we are living. He will help me to overcome the isolation and wait patiently for the vaccine.

    The last picture shows the signature on his back and a little stamp. The name reads "Kyotaro", according to the seller. It measures 17cm in height and approximately 10 cm in diameter.

    Thanks for the visit and KEEP IT UP!

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    Comments

    1. wickencrafts wickencrafts, 3 years ago
      I am not afraid
    2. jscott0363 jscott0363, 3 years ago
      This is so amazing! I've never seen any until I saw your posts. What an incredible history behind it. Great find!!
    3. mcheconi mcheconi, 3 years ago
      Thank you wickencrafts! You are a brave fellow :)
    4. mcheconi mcheconi, 3 years ago
      Thanks clockerman!
    5. mcheconi mcheconi, 3 years ago
      Thank you jscott0363! So glad my post made you discover the Daruma legend!
    6. mcheconi mcheconi, 3 years ago
      Thank you SEAN68 for the love!
    7. PhilDMorris PhilDMorris, 3 years ago
      Wow his eyes seem to really pop out and give the beholder rather a shock. It reminds me of the people who are able to make their eyes appear to be doing the same thing, when I see those Believe it or Not people on tv. I guess you could just copy the legend and have him facing the wall for another 9 years !~
    8. wickencrafts wickencrafts, 3 years ago
      Marty Feldman
      Peter Lorre
      AYE AYE EYES
    9. mcheconi mcheconi, 3 years ago
      Phil, oddly, the popping eyes are a symbol of good luck. Here's what I found on this matter: "Me Dashi Daruma "Daruma with Protruding Eyes", or "Daruma Whose Eyes Pop Out". Me ga Deru and Me ga Deta is a Japanese expression meaning "to have good luck," but its literal meaning is "eyes coming out." The phrase originated in the world of Edo-period gambling, for ME refers to the "eyes" on the dice, while DERU means "coming out, appearing, emanating." Thus, a winning roll of the dice was met with the exclamation Me ga Deru. Replacing the character ME (dice eyes) with the homophone ME (human eyes) produces a pun. Thus, Daruma dolls with eyes that pop out are good-luck talismans in Japan." Source: http://chinoqigong.blogspot.com/2015/
    10. mcheconi mcheconi, 3 years ago
      Thank you fortapache!
    11. mcheconi mcheconi, 3 years ago
      Many thanks Newfld!
    12. mcheconi mcheconi, 3 years ago
      Thank you vetraio50!
    13. mcheconi mcheconi, 3 years ago
      Thanks a lot
      blunderbuss2
      dav2no1
      Vynil33rpm
      aura
    14. racer4four racer4four, 3 years ago
      He is a wonderful Daruma, showing his character who well.

      I love the Japanese New Year Daruma to paint eyes on, one for your wish, one after the wish is achieved. I guess that is also related to the idea of perseverance.
    15. mcheconi mcheconi, 3 years ago
      racer4four, thank you! In my research I found out that the first Daruma figures had always the two eyes painted on and that this tradition of making a wish and giving Daruma his eyes came later. As you pointed out, the meaning of the act is quite different from similar Western customs. In Japan, it is not the Daruma who is supposed to make your wish come true, but he is only a reminder that you must persevere and keep fighting to make your wish come true yourself. The painting of the second eye is a "thank you for your example" act. I guess we can learn a lot from this tradition and stop bothering saints and God himself with our problems :))
    16. mcheconi mcheconi, 3 years ago
      Thank you kwqd!
    17. mcheconi mcheconi, 3 years ago
      Ms.Crystalship, thank you for your kind words. When I found the first Daruma, a wooden one I have in another post here in CW, I didn't make the correlation to what we are living now. It was very cheap, like 10 bucks and I was happy with my good luck of finding a nice Japanese hand carved piece for almost nothing. Then I started my research on him and learning about his history made me think that it was HIM who actually found ME, because I needed his help so much.
    18. PhilDMorris PhilDMorris, 3 years ago
      Imagine if he had grandchildren how they would have ran. I know I would but now I should try to find my mother's Ripley's Believe It Or Not" which was run I think in the earlier 1950's as a cartoon back then and had a size of approx 6X8 size in colour from the papers. She put them in a scrapbook and that was when I first heard of these people. Prob will be a while if I ever get back to that cedar chest to find it.
    19. mcheconi mcheconi, 3 years ago
      Oh Phil! you are so mean to my lucky popping eyes Daruma! :))) Nine years facing the wall? No way! He is lovely in his uglyness to my eyes and he will stay where he is, where I can see it all day, in my living room, next to his brother. And you don't need to find that old Ripley's book. Watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24PlWdfAGzM
    20. Manikin Manikin, 3 years ago
      Very interesting piece ! He might give me nightmares if he was in my room . I understand all cultures can see and feel something different with the background information you have supplied . Just tell him to keep his eyes still if they start to look around I would run lol. Hope all is well you ! Hugs from USA
    21. mcheconi mcheconi, 3 years ago
      Hello Mani, thank you for the love. Don't be afraid of Daruma-san! He is a benevolent character with an odd appearance. I see him as a very unique and interesting object of design with a great background history. Hope you are well and safe my friend, XXOO from Brazil!

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