In this article you will learn:

We love and honor in the East the most cheerful of Japanese gods fat, merry fellow Hotei: the meaning of the figurines of this deity carries a single meaning - happiness, joy and wealth.

What does Hotei with a bag behind his back symbolize?

Small oriental talismans, or netsuke, traditionally carved from wood, are now made from clay, plaster, glass and metal. According to Feng Shui, Netsuke Hotei is important in any Eastern family.

They carry it with them as a talisman for good luck in money matters. According to legends, this god collects all the failures and illnesses of its owner into its bag, giving him fortitude and wisdom at crucial moments. But the main thing is that it attracts money like a magnet, helping its owner achieve financial well-being.

The figurine itself means abundance and radiates exclusively positive energy.

Wish fulfillment

One of the seven Buddhist gods of happiness is loved and revered not only in the East. He can hold in his hands various items: coins, pearls, staff, fan, bowl, rosary, basket. Depending on which of them the figure, figurine, or netsuke is made with, it is designed to help its owner in one or another area of ​​life.

Hotei is the god of wealth, but he also brings good luck to those who strive for spiritual growth. A common amulet in the form of a pyramid with a god enclosed in it, surrounded by golden sand and coins, helps to advance along career ladder, teaches concentration on important matters and proper distribution of priorities.

Hotey with pearls was created for those who want to grow spiritually and are drawn to knowledge. If it is performed surrounded by children, its purpose is to help parents raise and provide for the younger generation.

To attract money, you can become the owner of any type of this god. But Hotei with coins, a peach, as well as a god sitting astride a toad or a turtle with a dragon’s head have a special effect.

What the legend says

In Japanese, hotei means a canvas bag. The prototype of the god of the same name was the wandering monk Tsitsa. He was fat, bald, cheerful, kind and, like any wanderer, he carried a canvas bag with him everywhere, where he put generous alms. According to legend, vital energy and love for people brought success, health and prosperity to others. When asked frequently about the contents of his immense bag, Tsitsa invariably laughed it off: “I have the whole world in it!”

Always cheerful and inviting, he loved to communicate with people, listened to them for a long time, made them laugh, dispelling their sadness. His infectious laughter gave people faith in better times.

From village to village there was a rumor that this monk carried good luck in a bag and generously gave it to people, taking away their illnesses, sorrows and problems. In the Middle Ages in Japan, he was recognized as one of the seven gods of happiness for his easy, carefree disposition. Hotei is sometimes called differently: Buddha, Maitreya, Budai. But in all ages it is equally desirable in any Chinese or Japanese home.

Figurine size

Whatever the size of the figurine, Hotei will bring good luck and money to the house if you choose the right place for it.

Netsuke are traditionally carried as a good luck charm or placed in a visible place, such as on a desktop.

Human-sized sculptures are often placed at the entrance to a room, facing the door, so that those entering can show their respect to him and mentally ask him for their secret.

The most popular are small souvenir figurines or tabletop compositions.

But the effectiveness of a deity does not depend on the size of his image. As in any other business, it is important not just to have a figurine, it is important to sincerely believe in its power.

Deity Material

Hotey with a bag in Ancient China, as in Ancient Japan, traditionally carved from wood or bone. Fangs and horns of wild animals were also used as material. He is one of the favorite netsuke characters. Later they began to make it from metals, cast it from glass, and cut it from gems (agate, jade, opal). A miniature symbol of wealth and happiness, made in the netsuke style, was carried with them in shells and hollow gourds.

Today in stores you can find a god molded from plaster or clay. It can be found made of plastic, porcelain, or carved from coral.

The material used to make this talisman does not matter. More important is its color.

It is believed that the true power is possessed by the white or golden Hotei. The place where it will be installed must be clean. Only in an environment of purity can a god help others. Chaos and garbage kill his energy.

Where to place the figurine

Buddhists believe that if you have a Hotei figurine at home with coins or a bag behind your back, then any wish can be fulfilled. The main thing is to believe. Well, rub Hotei’s big belly 300 more times, while asking the same number of times to make his dream come true.

Although the figurine of any Hotei in the house attracts good luck and cash flows like a magnet. If you place a cheerful fat man with a bag in his hands or behind his back in the northern part of an apartment or house, he will help in career and financial matters.

For a god with a pearl or a scroll, the north-eastern wing of the room is suitable - the zone of wisdom. Such a talisman will help in studying and building a career.

The eastern part is considered a health zone. This is the place for pumpkin fun.

The only rule for all figures is that they must face the entrance to the room.

One of the key and significant characters for the teachings of Feng Shui is a figurine of a laughing Buddha. The second name of the Hotei symbol. The figurine is a small figurine of a cheerful and broadly smiling plump man. A single life-size figurine of a fat man necessarily has an addition in the form of a burden in the hands or behind the shoulders and is often located on a stone or some other support.

The meaning of the figurine

The figurine belongs to the images of the gods of happiness. There are only seven such figures of the gods of fun. Since ancient times, the figurine of the laughing Buddha has occupied key positions in the homes of followers of the teachings of Feng Shui. It cleanses the house of harmful and negative energy and fills the house with good qi.

The figurine can be made from:

• wood;
• ivory;
• porcelain;
• bronze;
• ceramics.

The Council of Feng Shui Masters states that to achieve happiness and longevity, it is necessary to regularly stroke Hotei's belly. This ritual will give the owners of the figurine good luck, abundance, wealth and health.

Figure placement

1. The best place for a figurine is the living room. The Buddha should be positioned facing east. Finding a Buddha in the living room will attract someone to climb the social ladder into the house.
2. Placing Hotei at the entrance to the house will give the owners honor and respect from their neighbors.
3. Installing a Buddha in the southern rooms of the home bestows wealth.

In the hands of the figurine there may be coins - wealth, a staff - a symbol of health, a pumpkin - prosperity, a pearl - a symbol of wisdom, which attract abundance and prosperity to the house. The placement of the Buddha should correspond to the sector in the house, which is called upon to be responsible for the good that is in the hands of Hotei.

There are several options depicting a laughing Buddha.

Buddha in a children's environment gives the house numerous offspring. People who dream of a large family should have such a figurine. Having a figurine of a laughing Buddha with children in the living room of a house will give the house many heirs, and parents patience and health.

In Asia, peach was considered a storehouse of useful substances that could give longevity. A Buddha with a peach can give its owners iron health and an endless series of happy years.

The fan will remove obstacles from life path. Buddha with a fan is able to clear the way for new beginnings and bring closer the successful completion of all difficult undertakings.

The umbrella protects the owner from the troubles that the sky sends us. A Buddha figurine with an umbrella will bring protection to your home from blows of fate and unpredictable disasters. This figure gives impetus to climbing the social ladder.

There are several options for this figurine. Buddha can sit on a dragon-turtle, or he can sit in an embrace with a real dragon. Both figures are designed to attract good luck and finances to business. The figurine with a turtle also symbolizes the acquisition of wisdom and longevity.

The figurine will give its owners untold riches.

Alexander, November 6, 2014.

Hello, dear readers – seekers of knowledge and truth!

Today we will get acquainted with the good-natured Buddha, whom many have probably seen in the form of figurines brought from the East. His name is Buddha Hotei, and he promises to bring happiness to any home where he is loved.

The article below will tell you many interesting things about this Buddha: what is its significance in Eastern culture, where it is especially revered, what attributes it can be found with and what they mean.

You will also learn interesting story, which tells why Hotei has such a big belly. And at the end, we will share with you tips on how to make a wish to Want, where to put it in the house and which way to stroke your belly so that your dream will certainly come true.

God of happiness

Hotei is highly revered in China, in the practice of Feng Shui, but especially in Japan. According to local myths, he is considered one of the seven gods of happiness. He is very loved in the East, because he gives a rich, prosperous, happy, cheerful life, filled with communication with interesting people.

Buddha Hotei

It is called differently:

• Hotei - in Japanese;
• Budai - in Chinese.

The main companion of the laughing Buddha is a canvas bag, which in Japanese is translated as “ ho tay" This is where his name comes from.

Hotei is often called Buddha for some external resemblance to his statues. But from the point of view of Buddhist philosophy, they have nothing in common - Hotei comes from a different culture.

Hotei figurines - famous characters from Japanese arts and crafts netsuke. They can be of different sizes: from quite large statues, for example, at the entrance to a store, to small keychains that fit in a pocket. But Hotei’s strength does not depend on size - he is always ready to give wealth and financial success to his owners.

In any oriental souvenir shop you can meet this kind fat man. Shop owners buy them to attract greater profits, and ordinary family people place them in the house to find happiness, harmony and well-being. The area of ​​activity of the Buddha of Abundance depends on which area of ​​the apartment you place the figurine in.

In Chukotka there is an analogue of the god Hotei - he is called “peliken”. He also takes the form of a man with a kind smile and a huge belly, and his appearance in the house promises happiness and good luck to the owners.

Peliken - Chukchi mascot

Story

There are several funny legends associated with the god Hotei. Its prototype was a real monk from China who lived in the 10th century. His name was Tsi-Tsi.

But, unlike other monks, he did not like the life of a recluse. Tsi-Tsi traveled a lot, wandered around the country, constantly coming to fairs, bazaars - where there were a lot of people. He made money by predicting the weather or receiving alms.

He had with him only a wooden rosary, a staff and a canvas bag. The other bag was his huge belly, which could not be hidden under any clothing. But the Chinese loved him very much for this - it was believed that it was there that the vital energy of qi was concentrated, and Qi-Tsy had so much of it.

They also loved him for his kind disposition and wide, sincere smile. Wherever the good-natured monk appeared, fun began, and the people around him experienced good fortune, luck and wealth. When asked what he was hiding in the bag, the fat man said that the whole world was hidden in it.

Laughing Buddha

Since then, the world began to call him Hotei. He was depicted in figurines, statues that brought good luck to their owners. He reached the peak of popularity in the Country rising sun in the 15th century, but even today the furnishings of any Japanese home are rarely complete without its image.

Another version of the origin of the god of happiness goes back to Feng Shui, which connects him with Buddha Maitreya. Hotei, or as he is called in China, Budai, was a god, very handsome and good-natured. He drove thousands crazy with a woman, but could not be with any of them and, without meaning to, left them unhappy.

To stop the suffering of women, he took the form of a fat, bald deity. And to quench their sadness, he gave each woman happiness, wealth and good luck.

Varieties

Hotei is depicted in figurines as an old man with a bald head, a wide smile, a bottomless belly and, of course, a bottomless bag. Some say that he keeps happiness there, while others say that he collects people’s sorrows and sorrows there.

Hotei on a dragon turtle

Figurines come in different sizes, but are usually white, green or golden. Clay, wood, plaster, metal, stone - the material does not play a special role.

Another thing is the attributes and satellites of Hotei. It depends on them what exactly the god of happiness will give you. It can be depicted in different ways:

• on a toad with three legs - promises the owner a quick acquisition of wealth without much effort;
• on an animal - a mixture of a dragon and a turtle - helps businessmen build good relationships with partners, enter into profitable contracts, successfully invest money and make friends with successful people;
• with a pearl - also brings wealth, but also stimulates spiritual growth;
• s – gives well-being and opens the door to gaining knowledge;

Hotey with rosary

• with a fan - creates a wind of change that changes life in the best way;
• with a ginseng staff, bamboo or pumpkin bowl - attracts wealth, health and long life;
• with a rocker - entails untold wealth, happiness in the family, because the rocker holds a basket of gold, solid bars and coins;
• with a mountain of sand made of gold and coins - promotes concentration on an important matter, without being distracted by trifles, and soon - a rise up the career ladder;
• with a bag behind your back - gives luck, prosperity, which will be achieved with ease: work will bring pleasure and be given without difficulty;
• with a crown - patronizes celebrities;
• with children - helps married couple to quickly conceive long-awaited children and brings money for their upbringing.

Hotei with children

Hotei in the interior

The power of the god of happiness also depends on where he is placed in the house:

• in the hallway, facing the front door - gives respect to others, glory, honor;
• in the south of the apartment - entails recognition of the talents and abilities of the head of the family;
• southeast sector - attracts wealth, for example, finding a new, more profitable job or winning the lottery;
• sector of the east - gives warmth of the family hearth, harmony;
• zone of the west or southwest - helps to have children, raise them to be good people;
• desktop – promotes successful career, ease of work, desire to create and create, saves from gossipers and ill-wishers.

There may be several Hotei figurines in the interior. They know how to work miracles and fulfill specific wishes. To do this, you need to stroke the fat man's stomach three hundred times in a clockwise direction, continuously thinking about the object of your desires.

Hotey with a crown

You can stroke your tummy every time before leaving the house - then Hotei will give you good luck and luck for the whole day. But it is important to remember that he loves cleanliness and attention - the figurine should be in a prominent place so that all guests can admire it, and the space around it should be constantly tidied up. Then Hotei will certainly make your every day happy, rich and successful.

Conclusion

Thank you very much for your attention, dear readers! May wealth, luck and family well-being always be present in your life.

And join us - we will search for the truth together. See you!

Hotei (Hotey), Budai– God of happiness, wealth, fun and prosperity. Laughing Buddha, fulfilling wishes. God of joy and communication. One of the seven gods of happiness.

The most cheerful and positive of all existing gods of all times and pantheons! A figurine of Hotei can be found in the homes of millions of people, regardless of their religion. And no wonder - you won’t meet a more good-natured deity, and you want wealth and happiness!

There are several legends about Hotei:

A long time ago (at the end of the 10th century) in one country (let's call it China) there lived a monk, he was small and fat, and his name was Tse-Tsy. The monk constantly wandered and his faithful companions were only a large canvas bag and wooden rosary. By the way, the name familiar to everyone came from the bag - Hotei (Ho Tei - canvas bag in Japanese). And in China the monk was nicknamed Budai.

In the East, the belly is considered a haven for the soul, so Hotei can be called very soulful, and he (the belly) is also the personification of generosity and breadth of soul.

The legend about Hotei says that wherever he came, people immediately experienced health, luck and prosperity. Some people asked what Monk Hotei was carrying in his bag, he said that he was carrying “The Whole World” on his shoulders.

Later, the contents of his bag came to be considered the Great Emptiness (Ta-Khun), which personifies the “nothing” from which the great “everything” was born. After the death of the monk, Hotei began to be considered the eighth incarnation of the Buddha, Buddha Maitreya. According to the canons of Buddhism, Buddha Maitreya is a Bodhisattva of the ninth level, who will be born as Buddha Manushi 5000 years after the death of the great Shakyamuni Gautama, whose arrival will be the achievement of world harmony. Now he lives in the heavenly country of Tushita (Garden of Joy) and, according to Japanese legend, in the form of Hotei he descends to people to please them. Canonized as the god of carefree happiness (one of the seven gods of happiness) in Japan in the 17th century.

Another legend tells us about a laughing Chinese:

His name was Budai and he lived during the Tang dynasty. He did not want to call himself a Zen teacher or gather disciples around him. Instead, he wandered the streets with a large bag into which he put sweets, fruits or pies. He gave all this to the children who played on the street and gathered around him. He created kindergarten on the street. If he met a person on the street who had devoted himself to Zen, he would stretch out his hand and say, “Give me a coin.” And if someone asked him to return to the temple and teach others, he would repeat again: “Give me a coin.”

One day, while he was doing his play-work, another Zen teacher happened to be nearby and asked him: “What is the essence of Zen?” Hotei immediately dropped his bag to the ground in silent response. “Then,” another asked him, “what is the realization of Zen?” The happy Chinese immediately hung his bag on his shoulder and continued on his way.

And one more legend:

When Hotei achieved enlightenment, he began to laugh. He lived after this for almost thirty more years; and laughed all these years. Even in his sleep - his students sometimes heard him - he laughed. His whole message to the world was laughter. He moved from place to place, from one market square to another, stood in the center of the market and began to laugh - that’s the whole sermon. He laughed excitingly, contagiously; it was a real laugh, his stomach shook with laughter, Hotei fell to the ground and rolled on it. The people gathered around also began to laugh, the laughter spread further, like tidal waves, and now the whole village was overcome with laughter. People were looking forward to Hotei coming to their village, because he brought them so much joy, so much bliss. Hotei never said a single word. They asked him about Buddha, and he laughed; they asked him about enlightenment and he laughed, they asked him about truth and he laughed. Laughter was his only message.
from here

Hotei talisman

They say that in order to enlist the help of Hotei, you need to stroke his belly every day. And if you rub the Hotei figurine on your stomach exactly three hundred times, thinking about your most cherished desire, rest assured: your desire will come true. Therefore, stroking the belly of the Laughing Buddha has become a habit among many Chinese businessmen.

Others believe that the Laughing Buddha is the Buddha of Happiness because nothing brings him more joy than collecting all the world's misfortunes into his bag. This is the reason for his fun: he takes on what he loves most in the world - other people's problems.

According to Feng Shui, you should place a figurine of Hotei in the living room, preferably so that his gaze is directed towards front door; and the figurine should be as large as possible. The presence of the Laughing Buddha will have a beneficial effect on any room, as the image of this deity is believed to radiate positive Qi. Moreover, Hotei is able to absorb all the negative and deadly Qi inside the house, it is a good antidote to the annual invasion of flying stars, bringing with them illnesses and losses.

If you decide to purchase a Hotei, choose a figurine made from a material that will not disturb the harmony of the place where you intend to place it, or from a material considered most favorable to you. As for the figurines of Hotei, they can be golden or white with various attributes.

If in the hand of your Hotei on a ginseng staff there is a pumpkin, a gourd and a bunch of six ancient Chinese coins of happiness - this promises you financial well-being, success, happy long life, purity family relations and prosperity to your descendants. A peach - a symbol of immortality, held in the left hand - promises many years healthy life. If Hotei holds a fan, it means that all obstacles that complicate your path to your cherished goal will be swept away from your path. When Hotei sits in a pyramid, among coins and golden sand, then such a paperweight will calm the “workhorse”, help him concentrate, get into a working mood, and, of course, earn more. Sometimes you can meet Hotei with a magic pearl in his hands. This is a symbol of both material and spiritual wealth. If Hotei holds a rocker, and on it - a coin of fortune and a basket of gold bars, this is a justified expectation of great wealth, and the necklace around his neck (it depicts the hieroglyph "Fuk") is a promise of happiness and good luck. When Hotei is depicted with the Dragon, this is a guarantee of attracting solid capital, successful development of a business, or the opportunity to open your own business with the attraction of serious financial investments.

The pose of the Hotei figurine doesn't really matter, but take your time and choose the figurine you like best. Whenever you feel down, rub the Laughing Buddha's belly and look into his eyes. You will find that his joy is contagious and his smile will lift your spirits.

Happy Buddha

In almost all Buddhist temples in Thailand you can find a statue of this deity. A variety of sizes - from small to large. The Thais explain to foreign tourists that this is Lucky Buddha (aka Happy Buddha, aka Laughing Buddha). But what’s interesting is that from the point of view of Thai Buddhism, this character is not Buddha at all, and how “lucky” he is is also still a controversial question.

Golden Lucky Buddha

Among the historical Buddhas there is no description of the Laughing Buddha. But in the sources of Theravada Buddhism (followed in Thailand, Burma, Cambodia, Sri Lanka and some other countries) there is a story about an arhat (realized, who has achieved complete liberation) named Mahakachana (in Thailand he is called Phra Sangkajai). This is a very entertaining and instructive story 🙂.

The belly is so big

Mahakachana was so handsome that even men fell in love with him. One day a noble young man fell in love with him. The strength of the lover’s feelings was such that he even turned into a woman. However, his relatives did not like this very much. The scandal was enormous. Why does an arhat need scandals? So, he took advantage of his superpowers and turned into a fat man. And no one fell in love with him anymore.

Chiang Mai. Wat Chedi Luang. Happy Buddha

According to another version, because of his beauty, Mahakachana was compared to Buddha not only by people, but even by heavenly beings. It seemed inappropriate to him, so he created a huge belly for himself.

That is, initially there was no talk of either “lucky” or “happy”. But gradually there was a transformation of the image. Probably influenced by close contacts with neighboring countries, where they had their “laughing Buddhas”.

Another Lucky Buddha of Chiang Mai's Wat Chedi Luang

So, according to Tibetan (this is important) legends, Master Heshang lived in China in the eighth century (approximately). Historical chronicles report about him that he was completely happy. He traveled a lot and was always surrounded by children. After his death, Heshang began to be revered as the patron of good fortune. But! Probably, the Tibetans could have messed something up (or, let’s say, transformed it), because in China this story is told differently. And not about Heshang (which translates, by the way, as “monk”), but about the Chinese monk Qiqi (Tsi-Ji), who lived around the beginning of the tenth century.

Laughing Buddha in the background. Wooden

Tsitsi, apparently later transformed into Heshanga in Tibetan sources, traveled around the world making a living by predicting the weather. He was cheerful and happy, he was surrounded by children, also because there was always candy for them in his bag. And the “hemp bag” in China is called “Pu-tai” (Budai). And in Japan - “Hotei”.

Laughing Buddha

It is important to note here that in his bag there were not only sweets, but also other various good things, and he himself, when asked what was in the bag, answered, “I have the whole world there.” They also say that once, already an old man, sitting near some temple, Tsitsa said: “Eh, people, people, you didn’t recognize me. But I am the coming Buddha - Maitreya."

Laughing Buddha. In one of the Chinese temples in Phuket

In both China and Japan, Budai Hotei is the embodiment of happiness and carefree. He bestows good luck and wealth, and is also the protector of children, the poor and the weak. The tradition of rubbing the belly of Budai-Khotey dates back to folk superstitions and has nothing to do with Buddhism 🙂 Just in case 🙂, I’ll mention that to make your wishes come true you need to rub the figurine on your stomach three hundred times.

Dream Interpretation