A Chinese Blanc-de-Chine figure of Budai. Kangxi

This figure represents Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future, also known as the “Laughing Buddha,” who is invariably depicted with a robust physique and a joyful expression, draped in the robe of a mendicant with his chest and abdomen exposed. The figure of Budai Heshang, whose story is based on a historical monk active at the end of the Tang period, gained popularity as early as the Song dynasty. He is often depicted surrounded by children. His name, Budai, meaning “cloth bag,” derives from the sack that invariably accompanies him. He is frequently shown carrying this hemp bag containing all his possessions, along with a short cord of eighteen beads symbolising the Eighteen Luohan. Perhaps because of his cheerful appearance, he became one of the most sought-after figures on the export market in the eighteenth century. In English-speaking countries, he is also commonly known as the “Fat Buddha.”