Hotei

Hotei (布袋) was a wandering Chinese monk of the tenth century, known as Budai, who carried all he owned in a great cloth sack and gave freely to children and the poor. Fat, carefree and always laughing, he came to be seen as an incarnation of Miroku, the Buddha of the future, and as the Laughing Buddha he is loved throughout Asia. In Japan he is one of the Seven Lucky Gods.

Japanese 布袋, Hotei
Chinese Budai, Qici
Origin A historical Chan monk, later deified
Recognise by A huge bare belly; a cloth sack; a fan; often children around him
Brings Contentment, generosity, good health and plenty

Identifying Hotei

Hotei is the only lucky god with a shaven head and bare belly. He carries his sack, hotei itself meaning cloth bag, and often a fan. He may sit on the sack, lean on it or carry it on a staff over his shoulder, and children frequently climb over him. He is sometimes confused with Daikoku, who also has a sack, but Daikoku wears a hood and stands on rice bales.

Hotei and Zen

Hotei's freedom from attachment made him a model of Zen ease, and Zen painters returned to him again and again: pointing at the moon, stretching after sleep, laughing at nothing at all. The swordsman Miyamoto Musashi painted a celebrated ink painting of Hotei watching a cockfight. See Zenga: Painting by Zen Monks.

Collecting notes

  • Hotei figures are abundant in every material, from fine Edo carvings and netsuke to Chinese porcelain and modern bronzes. Judge by carving, expression and patina.
  • Ink paintings of Hotei by Zen monks are an accessible and characterful field for scroll collectors.

In the collection

Browse Hotei figures and the Seven Lucky Gods. Our collector concierge can search Japan for a particular piece.

See also

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