2007-05-30 09:52:02 · 17 answers · asked by Graciela, RIRS 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
There are several versions of Buddha. The pot bellied version, also known as the laughing Buddha, is actually Ho Tei (or Tai), a Chinese monk.
"Ho Tai or Laughing Buddha is part of Chinese folk lore. They say if you rub his belly, all your dreams come true. In China, HoTai is the God of Good Fortune and Guardian of Children. His overflowing round shape indicates abundance of inner wealth and a joy filled soul. He was an actual person, Ho-Tei-Shi, a Zen monk who had little regard for the transient qualities of dress or living conditions, but was renowned for his ability to delight the people with his eloquent reciting of Buddhist texts." (See reference link below)
His round belly is a symbol of prosperity and joy. Having his statue in your house is said to bring luck, wealth, and happiness.
2007-05-30 10:03:36 · answer #1 · answered by Wolfeblayde 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I'm no expert but I'll give this a shot: only Buddhas from certain traditions have a pot belly. I believe that Thai Buddhas are slender. I also recall reading that the belly is a sign of abundance.
2007-05-30 09:58:59 · answer #2 · answered by Queenie in the vitamins 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Most Chinese have really never seen Prince Siddartha who became the Buddha or have reach Illumination. Buddha is a title given to the highest spiritual achievement of man and successful men in China like their emperors are always thought of as wealthy and healthy with their pot belly as the symbol. In that belief, they created their own symbol of Buddha as a sign for good wealth and health. Prince Siddartha was an Indian with a medium frame of body with an athletic feature. When his popular teachings reached China then he was presented as an icon with different figures that represent all the good superstitions of China.
2007-05-30 10:10:20 · answer #3 · answered by Rallie Florencio C 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The 'Laughing Buddha' is actually a Chinese monk named Hotei, Pu-tai or Budhi. He came to be regarded as an incarnation of the next Buddha, Maitreya.
2007-05-30 10:09:38 · answer #4 · answered by The angels have the phone box. 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
For one thing, the fellow with the big belly isn't the historical Buddha who taught in India over 2500 years ago. Someone just made it up.
2007-05-30 09:56:28 · answer #5 · answered by Justsyd 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Actually if you look at statues his image changes according to region. In India he was very emaciated. But when Buddism went to China, they were turned off by the image because it wasn't the symbols of happiness. They adapted the image to a fat and happy guy because it was more attractive to them and its become the standard image.
My church just did a reading on this from a Middle East scholar. It was really interesting.
2007-05-31 03:29:45 · answer #6 · answered by ~Heathen Princess~ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've heard historians speculate that at the time, famine was common. As such, having body fat was seen as a sign not only of prosperity, but robustness in times of strife.
Similarly, you notice that attractive women in medieval paintings are usually pretty "plump" by today's standards.
2007-05-30 09:57:52 · answer #7 · answered by WWTSD? 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's one artistic depiction of the Buddha of the "future", not the one who's already been here.
_()_
2007-05-30 10:07:24 · answer #8 · answered by vinslave 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because that's a statue of Hotei, not Buddha.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budai
2007-05-30 09:57:59 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
That little Gold guy ate to many Twinkies?
2007-05-30 15:36:21 · answer #10 · answered by little miss sunshine 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋