21 Facts About Budai

Budai is a nickname given to the historical Chinese monk Qieci in the Later Liang Dynasty, who is often identified with and venerated as the future or Maitreya Buddha in Chan Buddhism and Buddhist scripture.

Budai is said to have lived around the 10th century CE in the Wuyue kingdom.

The name "Budai" literally means "cloth sack", and refers to the bag he is usually depicted carrying as he wanders aimlessly.

Budai is almost always shown smiling or laughing, hence his nickname in Chinese, the "Laughing Buddha".

Budai is traditionally depicted as overweight and having a huge stomach and many stories surrounding Budai involve his love of food and drink.

Budai is often mistaken by Westerners to be the original Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama.

Budai has origins centered on cult worship and local legend.

Budai is traditionally depicted as a fat, bald monk wearing a simple robe.

Budai carries his few possessions in a cloth sack, being poor but content.

Budai's figure appears throughout Chinese culture as a representation of both contentment and abundance.

Budai attracted the townspeople around him as he was able to predict people's fortunes and even weather patterns.

Budai was one of several "uncommitted saints" that became incorporated into the Chan pantheon.

Ultimately, Budai was revered from both a folkloric standpoint as a strange, wandering vagabond of the people as well as from his newfound personage within the context of the Chan tradition as a 'mendicant priest' who brought abundance, fortune, and joy to all he encountered with the help of his mystical "cloth sack" bag.

Budai is almost always depicted with his cloth sack that looks like a large bag.

Ink paintings such as these attributed to Budai often had an inscription and seal that signaled to high-ranking officials.

Many of the eccentric personalities that were inducted into the Zen tradition like Budai were previously wrapped up in the established culture and folklore of Japan.

When depicted with other gods in the Seven Lucky Gods, Budai maintains a solemn or even depressed countenance.

In Chinese art, Angida is sometimes portrayed as Budai, being rotund, laughing, and carrying a bag.

In Mongolia, Budai is called Enkh Amaglan Khan, which is identical to the Mongolian name for the Kangxi Emperor.

In Thailand, Budai is sometimes confused with the arhat Kaccayana, known in Thailand as Phra Sangkajai or Phra Sangkachai.

Budai considered this inappropriate, so disguised himself in a fat body.