Hotei Merch

Hotei 布袋 is the ever POPULAR god of Happiness, Laughter and the Wisdom of contentment. He is the patron of the weak and children, fortunetellers and bartenders. He is thought to be the itinerant Chinese Buddhist monk from the 10th century, Budaishi (Kaishi). He is my favorite Shichifukujin Gods/Goddess. Hotei translates in English to Cloth Bag. May Hotei bless you with all that is joy + happiness in our world.

Hotei looks at the Fighting Rooster by miyamoto Musashi

Green Sparkling Hotei Buddha is a fresh buddha with the beverage you like the most. Hotei is one of the 7 Lucky Monks inside Japanese Mythology. This one carries a bag in which he gathers stuff from the road. Is often placed in money bags to attract more money.

Trippy mask based on the African Mende Bundu Mask

An interpretation of Hotei's costume when BOØWY performed at the Budokan on December 10, 1986.

Mount Fuji from Lake Yamanaka 1936, Takahashi Shōtei

The laughing Buddha of Japan, Hotei, with his golden hyutan in front of wisteria.

Cat with Tomato Plant, Japan 1931, Takahashi Shōtei

Budai or Pu-Tai (Chinese and Japanese: 布袋; pinyin: Bùdài; rōmaji: Hotei; Vietnamese: Bố Đại) is a Chinese folkloric deity. His name means "Cloth Sack," and comes from the bag that he is conventionally depicted as carrying. He is usually identified with or seen as an incarnation of Maitreya, the future Buddha, so much so that the Budai image is one of the main forms in which Maitreya is depicted in China. He is almost always shown smiling or laughing, hence his nickname in Chinese, the Laughing Buddha (Chinese: 笑佛; pinyin: Xiào Fó). In the West, the image of Budai is often mistaken for Gautama Buddha, and is hence called the Fat Buddha (Chinese: 胖佛; pinyin: Pàng Fó).

Budai or Pu-Tai (Chinese and Japanese: 布袋; pinyin: Bùdài; rōmaji: Hotei; Vietnamese: Bố Đại) is a Chinese folkloric deity. His name means "Cloth Sack," and comes from the bag that he is conventionally depicted as carrying. He is usually identified with or seen as an incarnation of Maitreya, the future Buddha, so much so that the Budai image is one of the main forms in which Maitreya is depicted in China. He is almost always shown smiling or laughing, hence his nickname in Chinese, the Laughing Buddha (Chinese: 笑佛; pinyin: Xiào Fó). In the West, the image of Budai is often mistaken for Gautama Buddha, and is hence called the Fat Buddha (Chinese: 胖佛; pinyin: Pàng Fó).

Fat monk on ramen