Daruma-Hunting in Takamatsu-
Visiting Temples Nagao-ji and Ookubo-ji
April 2002

This time the Antiques Fair in Takamatsu was pretty small and things were getting quite cheap. On the picture you can see the result of this weekend, but most Daruma are from the following part of the trip.
Since we had a lot of time, we decided to visit Tempels Nr. 87 and 88 on the Shikoku Pilgrimage. Nr.87 was quite small and quiet. I got two Mikuji Daruma (Fortunetelling), white and red, with a Fortunetelling note saying I was in medium luck. (See Mikuji Daruma ).
But I found the same type of little Daruma doll later at a local antiques store for one third of the prize - and of course no note inside!
Homepage of Temple Nagao-ji in Japanese: http://www.shikoku-net.co.jp/88/8887.htm

Next we drove up to Ookubo-ji, temple Nr. 88 , which is located at the foot of two high mountains, symbolizing the two important Mandalas of Esoteric Buddhism. Since it is the last temple of the pilgrimage, you put the walking stick, which is an incarnation of Kooboo Daishi himself, at a special place to rest there. The compounds are big, with many interesting buildings and other monuments, and a huge Gingko-Tree shadowing it all. The view down the steep valley to the pink cherry blossoms was just breathtaking. On the stone stairway up to the temple was a simple little stone statue of a Hime Daruma (Daruma as a Princess) - at least that is what the statue looked to me. See for yourself:

Homepage of Temple Oookuob-ji in Japanese:
http://www.shikoku-net.co.jp/88/8888.htm

But now lets go Daruma-Hunting in the local souvenir shops. A group of eight little wooden Daruma sitting on three wooden measures of ricewine (masu), bringing you "a lot of good luck" (masu-masu). Mamori of two small Hime Daruma in red and white and one mamori with a small plastic Daruma with eyes popping out and Kooboo Daishi sitting in a hole in his back. I got the same ones at other temples last time, as I wrote before. On the way back we passed a rest area where local specialities are sold. 長尾道の駅。And just as expected, there was another special Daruma waiting. Since Temple 88 is the last, it signifies your wish has been granted, your vow fullfilled (ketsugan　結願). So here are three simple wooden Daruma in the style of kokeshi, the wooden dolls of Northern Japan, which we will discuss in a later artice. These ones here have a very personal face painted on the simply rounded wood. And on the body a large sign saying: Ketsugan Daruma! So here again we find a natural combination of Kooboo Daishi and Daruma Daishi on the Shikoku Pilgrimage. These impressive Darumas are made by Mr. Fujii Hiroyuki, Samukawa-Choo Ishida-Nishi 2585-2. 藤井博行　寒川町石田西2585‐2 The kind lady at the store even checked the telephonebook, but Mr. Fujii was not listed. They sell from 2000 to 5000 Yen, according to size. Have a look at one of his works:

Further down the road we passed an antiques store and had a look. What a heaven! I got nine pieces with Daruma san and my husband a few other items of strong wood - together with quite a bargain price for all this. But when I tried to hard to lower the price, suddenly the old owner (a smiling Daruma himself) got angry and said: "One more word and I will not sell you anything. I am not a junkyard, you know" I am sure we will be back. Most of this catch was roughly carved wooden Daruma and Sanukibori Daruma, which are described in the next part. We spend the next day at Konpira san, so see you there.