Hotei 5" (Lucky Buddha) Statue

Hotei, a playful figure in Japanese mythology, is one of the Shichi-fuku-jin (“Seven Gods of Luck”). He is often shown in modern art as a jovial and satisfied Buddhist monk with a prominent round belly, often accompanied by happy children. According to tradition, he is linked to a Chinese monk named Pu-tai, who was known for his kindness and eventually came to be seen as a physical embodiment of the bodhisattva (the future Buddha) Maitreya (Miroku in Japanese). His large stomach inspired the nickname of the “Laughing Buddha.”