Laughing Buddha (笑佛) rosewood

LAUGHING BUDDHA

(Balinese style)

The representation of contentment

Laughing Buddha is a Chinese folkloric deity. He is also popularly known as Budai in China and Taiwan, Hotei in Japan, the Fat Buddha in the English speaking countries. His figure appears throughout Chinese culture as a representation of contentment and has been incorporated into a number of Buddhist and Taoist folklore tradition. His image graces many temples, restaurants, amulets, and businesses.

Laughing Buddha is depicted as a fat bald man wearing a robe and carrying his few possessions in a calico bag (cloth sack) that he gets his Budai name from, being poor but content. He is admired for his happiness, generosity, open kind-heartedness, and wisdom of contentment. One belief maintains that rubbing his belly brings wealth, good luck, and prosperity.

In Japan, Hotei persists in folklore as one of the Seven Lucky Gods (Shichi Fukujin).

Some Buddhist tradition considers Laughing Buddha a Bodhisattva, usually Maitreya (The Future Buddha) in Sanskrit.

Laughing Buddha is sometimes confused with Phra Sangkadchai in Thailand, another widely respected monk.

笑佛

滿足的象徵          

笑佛是中國民間的神祗。在中國和台灣，普遍人都稱他為「布袋和尚」，日本人叫他Hotei（也就是「布袋」的意思），而英語世界的人則稱呼他「胖佛」。

在中國文化裡，笑佛的像一直代表著滿足，人們也往往把他列入一些佛教及道教的傳統中；其形像又令很多廟宇、餐館、護身飾物並商務行業生色不少。

人們眼中的笑佛，通常是個禿頭的胖子；他身穿袍子，手拿厚棉布袋，內中只有廖廖數物。由於笑佛雖貧亦樂，因而得到「布袋和尚」之名；人們羡慕他的快樂、慷慨、善心並得著滿足的智慧。有些人相信，擦擦他的肚皮會為人帶來財富、好運、榮華。

日本民間傳說中一直流傳，「布袋和尚」位列七位幸運之神（Shichi Fukujin）之中。有些佛教傳統則認為笑佛是位菩薩，一般是指梵文中的彌勒佛（末世的佛）。

人們有時候會把笑佛跟另一在泰國廣受尊崇的羅漢 Phra Sangkadchai 混淆了。

Product specification:
    Wood:       Rosewood.
    Process:    Hand made.
    Colour:       Wood colour.
    Height:       ± 20 cm.
    Weight:      Approx. 2.5 kg (including packaging).