Laughing Buddha

If you are looking for a single statue that symbolizes good luck and happiness then the laughing Buddha it should be. The holy and pious Buddha is named Hotei or Pu-Tai and is also called the jolly laughing Buddha statue. The laughing Buddha statues are based on the saint monk called Zen, who lived a thousand years ago. He is worshiped in the Shinto culture. This particular saint was generous and always had an ever ready smile on his face. This saint was the one with a protruding belly and that is exactly how the happy Buddha statue is depicted.

The laughing Buddha is not only a statue but is worshiped in several temples takes a place of pride in restaurants and is worn as a lucky charm. The laughing Buddha statue showcases the forms of abundance and plentitude in one’s life along with contentment.

The Buddhists believe that he is a futuristic monk and will be able to come back to life and the earth some day. The laughing Buddha statues always have a big waistline and a contented smile on their face.

You will find the happy Buddha statue in most places, right from homes, offices, business establishments and even shops. This is so because the laughing Buddha symbolizes the wealth and abundance that come along with being happy and cheerful.

The way the laughing Buddha statue is depicted is always the same way. He is a big man and always has a sack with him, which is filled with candies, rice plants. These substances are symbolic. The laughing Buddha statues have the bag full of sweets to bring a smile on the faces of children and the rice plant depicts good luck and a way to get rid of evil and suffering. The happy Buddha statue is quite similar to Father Christmas of the West.

The laughing Buddha is also shown as an old balding man in a loose white robe. The huge stomach shows good fortune and plentiful of happy tidings. The laughing Buddha statue always in the standing position has a stick in one hand and of course the linen sack over his shoulder.

The laughing Buddha statues are mostly seen in three different positions standing, sitting or reclining. The reclining position could be a depiction of the position that was adopted by the Lord Buddha in his last days before he went ahead to attain Nirvana.

The happy Buddha statue is displayed with great pride in most homes and businesses, and sometimes you will even have the laughing Buddha seated on the Dragon throne. The Dragon throne is quite symbolic as it symbolizes the seat of power and influence in Asian cultures. There are times when you will come across the laughing Buddha statue which has gold nuggets in his arm. The gold stands for the money and wealth that the laughing Buddha statues will fetch owners of the statue.

Some of the happy Buddha statues also have other things on them besides the ones mentioned. These are a rosary to indicate the piousness and prayers undertaken, a begging bowl for the lack of materialistic possessions to lead a frugal life and a Chinese fan to show the forms of Chinese's aristocrat life. The statue has a way of making people’s wishes come true and that is the reason it has so many followers.