| Buddhism is most often associated with Japan, China, | | | | and loving character, and as such he was linked with |
| and other countries of that area of the world. But | | | | the traditions of Maitreya the future Buddha. Because |
| Buddhism had its beginning in India, roughly in the 5th | | | | of his large belly and smile he was also called The |
| century B.C. Buddhism was the result of challenges to | | | | Laughing Buddha. |
| traditional Hinduism, and these challenges culminated | | | | The Laughing Buddha is often times portrayed as |
| with the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, the son of | | | | carrying a cloth sack which is filled with various things. |
| a wealthy tribal chieftain. He renounced his wealth and | | | | Money, candy for children, food, even the woes of the |
| became the Buddha, or the awakened one. Buddhism | | | | world. Sometimes he is portrayed as sitting, fanning |
| came to China circa 60 A.D., but it did not become well | | | | himself with a type of fan called a 'wish giving' fan. He |
| known and popular until the third century A.D. | | | | is sometimes portrayed with a begging bowl. But |
| Maitreya, the future Buddha, is a bodhisattva, which is | | | | whether sitting or standing, he is always bald with a big |
| a Sanskrit word that roughly means wise, enlightened | | | | pot belly and a smile on his face. |
| being. A bodhisattva is dedicated to helping others | | | | Belief in The Laughing Buddha is mostly based on |
| achieve enlightenment. Some sects of Buddhism | | | | legend. It is said that rubbing his protruding belly brings |
| believe that Maitreya will appear when the teachings | | | | good luck Statues of Maitreya are displayed in |
| of Gautama Buddha are no longer taught and are | | | | Buddhist temples, Chinese and Japanese homes, and |
| forgotten. But the meanings and beliefs about Matireya | | | | other places around the world. The many schools of |
| are many and varied within Buddhist beliefs. | | | | Feng Shui, the art of arranging spaces to fit the |
| The laughing Buddha was a Ch'an Buddhist Monk that | | | | environment to achieve balance and harmony, utilize |
| lived in China over 1000 years ago. The Ch'an sect of | | | | statues of Maitreya in many ways. In the office or in |
| Buddhism is called Zen in Japan. Tradition says that this | | | | the home, a statue of this wandering monk can bring |
| monk's name was Hotei, or Pu Tai (which means cloth | | | | wealth, peace and joy. |
| sack). Tradition also says that he was a man of good | | | | |