Laughing Buddha and feng shui
Is Laughing Buddha and feng shui related?
by Jayashree Bose

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A pre-conceived notion exists between many that laughing Buddha and feng shui are related. Once people know my profession one of the most common questions I get is regarding the laughing Buddha. The questions vary from placement of the laughing Buddha to whether it should be bought or gifted.

Before you draw any conclusions lets look at the history of the laughing Buddha.

The other names for laughing Buddha is Hotei(Japan) or Pu-Tai(China). In China, he is also called the loving or friendly one.

The Laughing Buddha derived its beginnings from a mix in Buddhist, Taoist, and Shinto religions and can be traced back to the time of the Liang Dynasty in China.

Scholars believe that the Laughing Buddha is in fact modeled on an historical figure, a fat wandering Zen monk named Pu-tai, who possibly claimed to be an incarnation of the future Buddha Maitreya (Mi-lo-fo), but this claim was only allegorical and due to his large protruding stomach and smile he was caricatured as the “Laughing Buddha.”

All sources describe him as obese, with wrinkled forehead, and a white protruding belly which he left uncovered. There was another feature that drew attention wherever he went, he wore a pu-tai or cloth-bag this is probably the reason why he is linked with the contemporary statuette available in the market. Thus he came to be known as Pu-tai Hoshang or hemp-bag monk.

A portrait of Pu-tai was there in the early twentieth century on the eastern side of the great hall of the Yueh-ling-ssu temple Checkiang province where he died. It is said that portraits of him were worshipped by Buddhist's in the belief that Pu-tai was in fact an incarnated form of the Buddha Maitreya.

What does the Pu tai (Laughing Buddha) symbolize?
He is a cheerful and happy character. He is always seen carrying a bag that which never empties and is overflowing with precious items like rice plants, candies and food. Sometimes he is seen with children probably because children are the most precious in this world. His character and the way he is depicted somehow reminds me of Santa Claus of the West. Some believe Pu Tai to be the incarnated form of Buddha Maitreya.

During my course of studies and trying to find the truth I have found that the modern day Laughing Buddha is probably a depiction of a wandering Zen monk, who probably could have been an incarnation of Buddha Maitreya and is also worshipped by many Buddhist.

However I have not found any relation between Laughing Buddha and feng shui. Feng shui is geomancy - the study of lines on earth and its effects on people. It can help people to understand time and its effect on their lives. Feng shui is based on many formulae which have been developed by many masters over a period of nearly 2000 years.