Daruma - Original painting on shikishi board

Size: 10×11 inches (24×27 cm)

This original Zen artwork features a painting of Daruma in Japanese ink on a traditional shikishi board.

The figure is depicted with bold, expressive brushstrokes that emphasize Daruma’s iconic rounded form and intense gaze. Accompanying the image is a calligraphic inscription of the proverb “fall 7 times, stand up 8,” written in a balanced and deliberate style.

The calligraphy 七転八起 “Shichiten Hakki” (“fall seven times, rise eight”) means to never give up—no matter how many times you fail, you get back up and keep moving forward. In particular, the four-character idiom expressing “fall seven times, rise eight” conveys a strong spirit that overcomes repeated failures through determination and perseverance.

Shikishi is the traditional Japanese-style square illustration board edged with gold trim. It is widely used in Japan for writing poems and drawing illustrations.