We're giving daruma away during the 2025 holiday season

This is a Daruma:

You've probably seen one before, right?

These traditional figurines have been made since the Edo period and are supposed to look like Bodhidharma, the Legendary monk who brought the teachings of the buddha from India to China more than 1,500 years ago. 

He is considered to be the grandfather of Zen Buddhism, and is thus a very important figure in Japan.

Daruma figurines represent perseverance while striving towards a goal.

When you first get one, the eyes are blank. 

You decide a goal or aspiration you want to achieve, and then draw the left eye.

Then, until you reach that goal, the one-eyed Daruma serves as a visual reminder to keep on persevering.

Once you achieve your goal, you draw in the second eye, and (eventually) take the Daruma to a temple to return as an offering.

Daruma represent perseverance because of a famous story where Bodhidharma was said to have spent 9 years meditating while facing a cave wall. 

His hair and beard grew wild and his limbs atrophied, but he kept on sitting, determined to achieve enlightenment.

Recently, we asked our favorite Daruma workshop in Takasaki, Gunma to make these original black Daruma for our customers.

Our name, Shi-Zen, is in kanji on the back 自禅.

They're small and a bit cuter than a classic Daruma, but still hand made in the same way.

We're going to give them away to everyone who orders more than one item this holiday season.

Details:

We'll be offering them from November 28 (Back Friday) ~ Jan 4th (Last day of New Years holiday in Japan) or while supplies last.

Order 2 or more items and we’ll include it in your package. No need to use a special code.

If ordering our products as gifts, just leave us a note saying how many people you will be gifting to, and we can include enough Daruma for everyone.

There will only be a limited number of Daruma available, and we think you'll like them! 

What will your goal be when you draw the first eye?