ABOUT
KATSUO-JI

Katsuo-ji Temple was built in the year 727 (The end of the Nara period), and worshipped as a winning temple since 1300 years ago.
In the beginning, the 6th chief priest of Katsuo-ji Temple cured Emperor Seiwa's illness by praying.
From this episode, our temple was named 勝王寺 Katsuou-ji(勝 Katsu means win, 王 Ou means King), but it was too presumptuous to have that name, so the name's lettering turned to 勝尾寺 Katsuo-ji, a more modest name.
From that time on, many Shogun and Busho prayed at Katsuo-ji as anyone who prayed here could beat any challenges in life from the Kamakura period to the Edo period.
Katsuo-ji is also called the Winning Daruma Doll Temple. A lot of darumas are dedicated for people who pray for school success, fulfillment in love, and victory in sports games, etc. But the most important thing is your effort.
Daruma fortune dolls are avalaible as well.Every fortune doll has a different face, so you can pick one which you feel a "relationship" to.
Temple-goers often place the Daruma fortune dolls in their homes. In magnificence, you can feel its strong power.

WINNING
DARUMA

Eyes

Originally, the Daruma doll's eyes are white. Painting in the eyes signifies "making a prayer".

Body

The Daruma doll has a round body and doesn't have arms or legs.It comes from the monk Bodhidharma, who sat facing a wall in meditation for a period of 9 years without moving, which caused his legs and arms to fall off from atrophy.

Color

The meaning varies according to the colors. Red is for an amulet to protect from evil, white is for success in human relations, black is for success in life, green is for good health, and gold is for economic fortune.

The Daruma doll is loved by everyone in Japan since 200 years ago.It comes from the monk Bodhidharma, who sat facing a wall in meditation for a period of 9 years without moving, which caused his legs and arms to fall off from atrophy.
In Japan, the Daruma doll's shape looks like Okiagari Koboshi (self-balancing doll), so It is said that the Daruma doll means 'stumbling seven times but recovering eight' (nanakorobi-yaoki)'.

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