<P> Bodhidharma was a Buddhist monk who lived during the 5th / 6th century AD . He is traditionally credited as the transmitter of Ch'an (Zen) to China . Little contemporary biographical information on Bodhidharma is extant, and subsequent accounts became layered with legend . According to one tradition, Bodhidharma gained a reputation for, among other things, his practice of wall - gazing . Legend claims that he sat facing a wall in meditation for a period of nine years without moving, which caused his legs and arms to fall off from atrophy . Another popular legend is that after falling asleep during his nine - year meditation he became angry with himself and cut off his eyelids to avoid ever falling asleep again . </P> <P> The current popular symbolism associated with Daruma as a good luck charm in part originated with the Daruma - dera (Temple of Daruma) in the city of Takasaki (Gunma Prefecture, north of Tokyo). Josef Kyburz, author of "Omocha": Things to Play (Or Not to Play) with, explained that the founder of Daruma - Dera would draw New Year's charms depicting Bodhidharma . The parishioners would keep these charms to "bring happiness and prosperity and ward off accidents and misfortune". </P> <P> It is believed that the Daruma figurine then originated from this region when the ninth priest, Togaku, found a solution to handle the constant requests of the parishioners for new charms . The charms were always given with an effectiveness of one year, so the people required new ones every year . He solved this by entrusting them with the making of their own Daruma charms near the beginning of the Meiwa period (1764--72). The temple made wooden block molds for the people to use . The peasants then used these molds to make three - dimensional papier - mâché charms . </P> <P> Kyburz notes that though it is unknown when the Daruma figurine combined with the tumbler doll; the two were well recognized as synonymous by the mid-19th century . The doll quickly grew in popularity, becoming a mascot of the region . This was due greatly in part to fact that the majority of the families were silk farmers, a crop which requires a great deal of luck for success . </P>

How do you say red eyes in japanese