Mino Japanese Daruma Mug [red]

Daruma took its form from Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen Buddhism in Japan, who lived somewhere in the turn of the 5th to 6th centuries. His true origins are still mysterious, the details of his life are intertwined with the legends that emerged later on. Most likely, his life journey began in Central Asia.

On a journey east, he stopped at a monastery in China, where he laid the foundations of martial arts for Shaolin monks. After that, he settled in a nearby pit and began meditating.

This is where the connection with present-day Daruma (the Japanese name for Bodhidharma) begins. For nine years, Daruma meditated in a sitting position and since he did not move, he lost his arms and legs. This has been mentioned many times in Japanese folklore and can also be seen in art paintings. Daruma figurines capture Bodhidharma's meditating posture. His devotion to enlightenment was so great that despite his physical loss, he maintained a strong spirit.

The Daruma figurine is associated with the Japanese proverb "Nanakorobi yaoki" which would literally mean "If you fall eight times, get up nine times". The non-overturning circular shape of Daruma tells us that we must not give up on our goals.