daruma

[ duh-roo-muh; Japanese dah-roo-mah ]

noun

1. a large red papier-mâché Japanese doll in the form of a seated potbellied Buddhist monk: considered a bringer of luck and prosperity.

Word History and Origins

Origin of daruma¹

1960–65; < Japanese < Chinese, transliteration of Sanskrit dharma dharma

Example Sentences

But as delightful as many of those pieces are, as paintings, none quite has the self-propelled perfection of Hakuin’s “Giant Daruma.”

From New York Times

That one contains nothing but what’s necessary to communicate the ideas in question — in this case the conventional attributes of Daruma, which are long ears, broad forehead, an expression of profound concentration bordering on anger, and a beard.

From New York Times

In the 17th century, Isshi Bunshu painted a portrait of Daruma, or Bodhidharma, the Indian monk considered the founder of what became Zen, consisting of almost nothing but the great man’s robe in silhouette.

From New York Times

Or consider making Takasaki, northwest of Tokyo and the birthplace of Japan’s famous red Daruma dolls, your base.

From Seattle Times

By contrast, “Untitled” from 1998 is a grid of black cubbyholes, each one containing a found treasure: a baby doll’s head, a Japanese daruma doll, a plastic apple, the head of the Red Power Ranger.

From Los Angeles Times