New Delhi: The Laughing Buddha also known as Hotei in Japan or Pu-Tai in China is thought to be based on an actual wandering Chinese monk who lived at the time of the Liang Dynasty (907-923 AD). He is usually shown smiling or laughing, hence nicknamed the Laughing Buddha. He is also called as the "Happy Man" The mere sight of this spiritual statue can sometimes instill feelings of impending luck and good-will in the minds of its onlookers. For others, the statue of the fat laughing Buddha is simply a beautiful decorative piece to accentuate their living spaces. Here we bring some rare known facts about the Laughing Buddha: 1. The Laughing Buddha is not the same as Siddhartha Gautama an Indian prince who became the founder of Buddhism in 520 B.C.E. 2. Laughing Buddha the character is thought to be based on an historical Chinese Buddhist monk who lived more than 1,000 years ago. 3. According to a legend, if one rubs the belly of Laughing Buddha, it brings forth wealth, good luck, and prosperity. 4. It is also believed that the Laughing Buddha can absorb negative energy and emanate positive energy. 5. Some Buddhist traditions consider him a Buddha or a bodhisattva, often identifying him with Maitreya (the future Buddha). 6. Laughing Buddha may be found sitting on a cart drawn by boys, or wielding a fan called an oogi (said to be a "wish giving). All of these images display Hotei as a wandering monk who goes around and takes the sadness from people of this world. 7. Fertility and Laughing Buddha – some women supposedly rub the Buddha's stomach in the hopes becoming pregnant soon.
