Have serious fun with Pu-tai

Oct 4, 2009, 12.00am IST
NARAYANI GANESH.

Apot-bellied Laughing Buddha, reminiscent of a jolly Santa Claus, goody-bag and all, is the very antithesis of the stoic, self-denying Sakyamuni.


The Buddha as the serious one, often depicted seated in a jungle with eyes closed in deep meditation, oblivious to the vine entwining his still body, is a picture of quietude and contentment. Taking a closer look, the contrast between the jovial and serious caricatures of enlightenment might not be all that sharp, since they represent two aspects of the same insight that is suffused with kindness and compassion, selflessness and detachment.


The Laughing Buddha, also called the Celestial Buddha, is fat and jolly. He is shown carrying a rough-hewn sack that never becomes empty, from which he gives away that which promotes joy and happiness. As Pu-tai or Budai in Chinese folklore, Hotei in Japanese and Hasne Buddha in Nepali, the Fat Buddha is poor - in the material sense - but rich in knowledge and empathy. The obverse depiction of the Enlightened Buddha probably had its origins in the story of a Chinese Zen monk who lived in tenth century China, whose loving and detached nature is suffused with the wisdom of contentment . In Japan, he is also known as Shichi Fukujin, a Taoist lucky god.

Thai folklore extols the Laughing Buddha as Phra Sangkadchai, a Buddhist Arahant who was a contemporary of the Buddha who appreciated his ability to explain the sophisticated and abstract truths of the Buddha Dhamma in a simple but succinct manner, easily understood by the layperson.

The Laughing Buddha also has a Sanskrit name that indicates he was believed to be symbolic of the Buddha of the future, Maitreya, who guides people to the essence within each one that reveals the truth of the interconnectedness of all Creation. Depicted in Chinese murals as representing the tenth and most evolved stage of enlightenment, he easily shares the 'secrets' of self-liberation with humour and simplicity, as a people-friendly enlightened master. As an agent of happiness and generosity, Maitreya reveals to the seeker that heaven is not something out there but only waiting to be discovered within, even as one ekes out an earthly existence.

Budai's protruding belly signifies the expanse of his soul, and rubbing it is believed to bring luck. Like Ganesha, he has large, protruding ears that are symbols of his vast knowledge and deep understanding.


Murals and other representations of the Laughing Buddha show a wandering monk full of mirth, followed by children as he goes about distributing kindness and generosity from a bag slung over his shoulder, erasing the sadness out of the lives of people he meets on his infinite travels, spreading joy and happiness. Others show him wielding a 'wishing' fan, at the flick of which he grants the wishes of those who pray for something with great fervour. He's funny and serious, he also brings luck and prosperity. Figurines of the Laughing Buddha are given away as gifts to dear ones for luck, and he is often found welcoming visitors at entrances to temples, hotels and restaurants.