✨ Hōrinji (Darumadera) Temple 法輪寺

Founded in 1718, Hōrinji Temple is famous for being home to roughly 8,000 donated daruma dolls, ranging from palm-sized to nearly human height. It was so many, I had no idea such a vast variety exsited... I also didn't know until my most recent trip to Kyoto that Daruma dolls represent Bodhidharma, the Indian monk credited as the first patriarch of Zen Buddhism and the round, limbless shape comes from the legend that after nine years of cave meditation, his limbs atrophied.........