The Laughing Buddha: A Symbol of Good Fortune
{More commonly known as the the Laughing Buddha, Ho Tai was a monk of the T’ang Dynasty, known for the sack of candy he carried and shared with little children. He is a mythical figure of Chinese folklore, and one of the Seven Gods of Fortune representing good fortune and contentment. In other Buddhist traditions he is considered a bodhisattva, one who has dedicated himself to the path of enlightenment like Buddha, or a Maitreya, a Buddha of the future who will appear on Earth, achieve enlightenment and teach the Dharma.
The true Buddha began his path to enlightenment after seeing a disabled old man begging and learned of suffering and decided to embrace asceticism. His journey of contemplation brought him to a sacred fig tree where he paused in meditation. It was there that he attained a perfect state of illumination, or Bodhi. From that moment forward, he was Buddha who took to the countryside and preached for 44 years what was to become one of the main religions of the world until his death at age 80.
Laughing Buddha statues are frequent Asian decor accent found in business and restaurants because he is believed to be a talisman of good fortune and financial success. You almost always see Ho Tai carrying a linen sack, filled with candy for children and gifts of food for the less fortunate. Much like Catholicism’s St. Nicholas, Hotai is the patron saint of children, the suffering and the downtrodden.
A laughing Buddha statue portrays a doughy, bald fellow whose generous potbelly can be spied through his loose-fitting robe. While Hotei could definitely benefit from a few stomach crunches, his round midriff is a talisman of prosperity and good fortune. Along with his chubby belly and happy grin the Hoteil nearly always carries old walking stick in one hand and his sack in the other.
Ho Tai is most often portrayed as a statue in either a reclined, standing or sitting position. The reclining position most likely originates from the “sleeping Buddha position,” one that reflects the Buddha’s dying moment on Earth before he ascended to Nirvana. Quite frequently, the happy Buddha Statues are displayed in the home as a talisman of wealth and good tidings. Many happy Buddha statues portray the jolly patron holding gold ingots in his hands while sitting atop a pile of gold coins. Quite often you will see the Buddha resting on a Dragon throne. The Dragon is a idealof security and power in Asian cultures.
Other symbolic elements often seen in artistic representations of the laughing Buddha include a rosary necklace symbolic of prayer, a pauper’s bowl representing the laughing Buddha’s lack of worldly possessions or an oogi. The oogi is a Chinese “wish giving” fan used by ancient Chinese aristocracy as an affectation to demonstrate that their wishes would come true.
In the West, the Hotei is thought of as the “fat Buddha.” As a chubby, smiling man who often travels sharing candies and presents to children, Ho Tai most closely resembles what Westerners think of as Jolly St. Nick. However, his gifts and candy can be enjoyed all year. -It’s believed that if you rub the belly of a happy Buddha you are sure to enjoy good luck and wealth. Hotei is also considered the patron of bartenders and restaurant owners and is frequently displayed in Asian restaurants. When people overindulge on wine and spirits, this is often credited to the influence of the laughing Buddha.}
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