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The Daruma Temple ...
The Shorinzan Daruma-ji Temple (少林 山 達磨 寺) is located in Takasaki: it was built in 1697 and dedicated to Daruma. On January 6th and 7th every year, the Shorinzan Nanakusa Taisai Daruma Market Festival is held here, a great opportunity to buy your Daruma. Here people traditionally buy their Daruma for the new year.
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First testimonies of Daruma ...
Due to the arson of the Daruma temple and its valuable archive, the exact information remains a mystery, but it is said that there was a monk named Shinetsu, who began distributing Daruma-shaped omamori talismans here as early as 1667 .
It is also said that, in 1800, during a famine, the faithful made rudimentary Daruma dolls, using papier-mâché on a wooden core. From that moment the knowledge and cult of Daruma dolls spread throughout Japan.
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Daruma color, shape, materials ...
Daruma is usually red, which in Japan means "protection against evil".
The Daruma doll is oval, with no arms, legs or eyes.
The Daruma is made of papier-mâché or wood, so that it can be burned, according to tradition, at the end of the year.