Happiness In Bhutan
Budai – Turned parts Manufacturer – Metal Fabrication by hi joiney
Description
Budai is often depicted as having the appearance of an amply proportioned bald man wearing a robe and wearing or otherwise carrying prayer beads. He carries his few possessions in a cloth sack, being poor but content.
His figure appears throughout Chinese culture as a representation of contentment. His image graces many temples, restaurants, amulets, and businesses.
Amongst Westerners new to Buddhism, Budai is often confused with the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. However, the two are visually very distinct. Gautama is commonly depicted as being tall and slender in appearance (although since no images of him from his lifetime exist, this depiction of him is unverifiable and possibly idealized); Budai is short and overweight. (Buddha means “one who has achieved a state of perfect enlightenment” and there are several people who have been given the title.)
History
According to Chinese tradition, Budai was an eccentric Chinese Zen (Chn) monk who lived during the Later Liang Dynasty (907923 CE) of China. He was a native of Fenghua, and his Buddhist name was Qieci (Chinese:; pinyin: Qic; literally “Promise this”). He was considered a man of good and loving character.
Although primarily a folkloric figure, he has been incorporated into a number of Buddhist and Taoist folklore traditions.
Traditions that revere Budai
Folklore
Budai in folklore is admired for his happiness, plenitude, and wisdom of contentment. One belief popular in folklore maintains that rubbing his belly brings wealth, good luck, and prosperity.
In Japan, Hotei persists in folklore as one of the Seven Lucky Gods (Shichi Fukujin) of Taoism.
Buddhism
Some Buddhist traditions consider him a Buddha or a bodhisattva, usually Maitreya (the future Buddha).
His identification with the Maitreya Bodhisattva is attributed to a Buddhist hymn (Chinese:; pinyin: jy) he uttered before his death:
Maitreya, the true Maitreya
has billions of incarnations.
Often he is shown to people at the time;
other times they do not recognize him.
Zen Buddhism
The primary story that concerns Budai in Zen (Chn) is a short kan. In it, Budai is said to travel giving candy to poor children, only asking a penny from Zen monks or lay practitioners he meets. One day a monk walks up to him and asks, “What is the meaning of Zen?” Budai drops his bag. “How does one realize Zen?” he continued. Budai then took up his bag and continued on his way.
I Kuan Tao
Statues of Budai form a central part of shrines in the I Kuan Tao. He is usually referred to by his Sanskrit name, Maitreya, and is taken to represent many important teachings and messages, including contentment, generosity, wisdom and open kindheartedness. He is predicted to succeed Gautama Buddha, as the next Buddha. He helps people realize the essence within, which connects with all beings. and he fosters the realization of tolerance, generosity and contentment; thus, he helps to bring heaven to earth.
Conflation with other deities
Angida Arhat
Angida was one of the original eighteen Arhats of Buddhism. According to legend, Angida was a talented Indian snake catcher whose aim was to catch venomous snakes to prevent them from biting passers-by. Angida would also remove the snake’s venomous fangs and release them. Due to his kindness, he was able to attain bodhi.
In Chinese art, Angida is sometimes portrayed as Budai, being rotund, laughing, and carrying a bag. In Nepali, he is also called hasne buddha.[citation needed]
Phra Sangkajai/ Phra Sangkachai
Phra Sangkachai
In Thailand, Budai is sometimes confused with another similar monk widely respected in Thailand, Phra Sangkajai or Sangkachai (Thai: ). Phra Sangkajai, a Thai spelling of Mahakaccayanathera (Thai: ), was a Buddhist Arhat (in Sanskrit) or Arahant (in Pali) during the time of the Lord Buddha. Lord Buddha praised Phra Sangkadchai for his excellence in explaining sophisticated dharma (or dhamma) in an easily and correctly understandable manner. Phra Sangkajai also composed the Madhupinadika Sutra.
One tale relates that he was so handsome that once even a man wanted him for a wife. To avoid a similar situation, Phra Sangkadchai decided to transform himself into a fat monk. Another tale says he was so attractive that angels and men often compared him with the Buddha. He considered this inappropriate, so disguised himself in an unpleasantly fat body.
Budai, Wat Don Phra Chao, Yasothon, Thailand
Although both Budai and Phra Sangkajai may be found in both Thai and Chinese temples, Phra Sangkajai is found more often in Thai temples, and Budai in Chinese temples. Two points to distinguish them from one another are:
Phra Sangkajai has a trace of hair on his head (looking similar to the Buddha’s) while Budai is clearly bald.
Phra Sangkajai wears the robes in Theravadin Buddhist fashion with the robes folded across one shoulder, leaving the other uncovered. Budai wears the robes in Chinese style, covering both arms but leaving the front part of the upper body uncovered.
See also
Buddhism
Maitreya
Seven Lucky Gods
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Hotei
Truetao.org Information on Hotei within I Kuan Tao
An article on History of Maitreya & Hotei
Smiling Buddhas Importance of the laughing buddha in Feng Shui.
References
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Chinese Buddhist Pantheon
Buddhas:
kyamuni | Amitbha (mtu F) | Bhaisajyaguru (Yosh F)
Bodhisattvas:
Gunsh Yn (Avalokitevara) | Majur (Wnshshili) | Samantabhadra (Pxin) | Ksitigarbha (Dzng Wng) | Vajrap (Jngng Shu) | Ml Psa (Maitreya)
Deities:
Four Heavenly Kings (S Tinwng) | Sangharama (Qeln) | Skanda (Witu) | Yama (Yn Wng) | Sudhana (Shan Cai) | Nagakanya (Long N)
Sangha:
Mahkyapa | nanda | Moggallna | Bodhidharma (Dm) | An Shigao | Xunzng | Shn Do | Emperor Ming | Emperor Wu | Eighteen Arhats
Mahayana | Pure Land | Chn | Tantrism | Chinese mythology | Religion in China
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Japanese Buddhist Pantheon
Buddhas ():
Vairocana (Dainichi Nyorai) | Amoghasiddhi (Fukujoju Nyorai) | Amitbha (Amida Nyorai) | Akshobhya (Ashuku Nyorai) | Ratnasambhava (Hossho Nyorai) | Shakyamuni (Shaka Nyorai) | Bhaisajyaguru (Yakushi Nyorai)
Bodhisattvas ():
Vajraparamita (Kong-Haramitsu) | Vajrasattva (Kongosatta) | Maitreya (Miroku) | Avalokitesvara (Kannon) | Samantabhadra (Fugen) | Manjusri (Monju) | Mahapratisara (Daizuigu) | Ksitigarbha (Jizo) | Akasagarbha (Kokuzo) | Mahasthamaprapta (Seishi)
Wisdom Kings ()
Five Wisdom Kings | Acala (Fudo-Myoo) | Rgarja (Aizen-Myoo) | Ucchusma (Ususama) | Hayagriva (Bato Kannon) | Mahamayuri (Kujaku-Myoo)
Deities ():
Shitenn | Marici (Marishi-ten) | Mahakala (Daikokuten) | Saraswati (Benzaiten) | Brahma (Bonten) | Hotei | Jurjin | Fukurokuju | Vaisravana (Bishamonten) | Ebisu | Ugajin
Circumstancial appearances ():
Izuna Gongen | Atago Gongen | Konpira Daigongen
Religious men ():
Bodhidharma | Shtoku Taishi | Kb Daishi | Dengy Daishi | Dgen Kigen | Shinran Shonin | Nichiren Shonin | Sixteen Arhats
Zen | Tendaish | Pure Land | Vajrayana | Tantrism | Shingon | Nichiren | Japanese mythology
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Foundations
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The Buddha
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Key concepts
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Attainment
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Major figures
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Miscellaneous
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Categories: Bodhisattvas | Buddhas | Chinese gods | Fortune gods | Japanese gods | Chinese Buddhist monksHidden categories: Articles lacking sources from December 2009 | All articles lacking sources | Articles containing Chinese language text | All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements from January 2009 | Articles containing Thai language text
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