Daruma dolls bring good luck and players will be able to see that in this classic Japanese inspired Lucky Neko Gigablox™ game. The symbology will leave players in no doubt as to where they are with the cat among other things. A beautifully represented organisation and 3 features: the Lucky Neko, Gigablox and free spins (as in 9K Yeti™ another Yggdrasil software marvel) will try to replenish their coffers.
The story of the daruma doll is closely linked to that of the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma, the initiator of Zen Buddhism in Japan. This monk, originally from India, is said to have lived between the 5th and 6th centuries AD, but his story is intertwined with legends and exists in different versions (as do most Japanese stories), leaving his origins and life a mystery.
Most stories say that the monk Bodhidharma, on his pilgrimage, stopped for a while at a Shaolin monastery in China where he developed the teaching of Chan Buddhism as well as the martial art practice of Shaolin Kung Fu. After returning to the road, he decided to stop in a cave to meditate until he reached enlightenment. He spent nine long years observing the cave wall, sitting still and not closing his eyes.
A legend says that at the end of the seventh year, the monk fell asleep from fatigue. When he woke up, he was so angry with himself that he decided to cut off his eyelids and never fall asleep again. He perceived this weakness as a lack of discipline and wished to make amends to the gods by mutilating himself in this way.
According to legend, green tea plants sprouted where the eyelids were thrown. Since then, Buddhist monks have been drinking green tea to stay awake and meditate for long hours. After nine years of sitting in the same position without moving an inch, the monk Bodhidharma lost the use of his limbs.
Some stories say that his legs and arms atrophied, others say that they became completely detached from his body. This is why the daruma doll is represented without arms or legs. The intense expression of the daruma, with its two large open eyes without lids, embodies the struggle, determination and perseverance of the monk Bodhidharma.
The first daruma dolls were made in the 17th century. The monks of the town of Takasaki in Gunma Prefecture had the idea of making papier-mâché talismans in the image of the monk Bodhidharma to bring luck to farmers.
Farmers' incomes usually depended on luck at harvest time and, as Japanese culture is very superstitious, having a good luck charm was good for them. Eventually, farmers began to make daruma dolls themselves and sell them to supplement their meagre incomes in times of economic hardship. A few decades later, the use of the daruma doll gained in popularity and spread throughout the rest of the country.
Today, the city of Takasaki still produces over 80% of the daruma made in Japan. A round body, without arms or legs. But there is an explanation as to why the daruma doll was designed to always return to its original upright position. Is it the same principle as a tumbler? No matter how hard it is pushed, it will always get up again.
The daruma is a wonderful illustration of the Japanese proverb (nanakorobi yaoki) which translates as (fall down seven times, get up eight times). Put another way, no matter how many times you fall down, you must always get back up to achieve your goal. The daruma is a good luck charm (as is the Maneki Neko), but above all it is a powerful symbol of perseverance.
The most remarkable feature of the doll is its two large open eyes, without eyelids or pupils. The theory behind this is linked to the story of Bodhidharma and the moment when he tore off his eyelids to stop falling asleep. The facial hair painted on the figurine corresponds to the eyebrows and beard of the monk Bodhidharma.
Some people write their wish on the doll to keep it in sight or to make their wish more official with themselves and the gods. Although daruma come in all colours these days, the most popular traditional colour is red. One theory is that Bodhidharma, after his journey to China, wore a long red robe like Chinese Buddhist monks during his nine years of meditation in the cave.
Another, much darker theory is that the red colour may have originated during a period of devastating smallpox epidemics in the country. In a culture as superstitious as Japan's, this disease could only be a curse sent by a vengeful god.
According to a popular belief, red was the favourite colour of the smallpox god, so people began to wear red clothes to get into the god's good graces and be spared from the disease. Thus, the red colour of the daruma doll was believed to ward off disease and help healing.
