“Fat Buddha” Really a 10th Century Chinese Monk

Image via Wikipedia

More commonly known as the Happy Buddha or Laughing Buddha, Hotei was a monk of the T’ang Dynasty, recognized for the sack of candy he carried and shared with small children.  He is a figure of Chinese folklore, and one of the Seven Gods of Fortune representing abundance and good health.  He is also thought to be a bodhisattva, one [...]