Vintage Japanese Hotei Laughing Buddha Carved Wood Statue Sculpture 18"

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Vintage 20th century Japanese Hotei / Laughing Buddha statue. Standing with arms joyfully raised, this figure is a symbol of … Read more Vintage 20th century Japanese Hotei / Laughing Buddha statue. Standing with arms joyfully raised, this figure is a symbol of happiness, luck, and prosperity. Carved wood with a black finish.

In Japanese mythology, one of the Shichi-fuku-jin (“Seven Gods of Luck”). This popular figure is depicted frequently in contemporary crafts as a cheerful, contented Buddhist monk with a large exposed belly, often accompanied by children. Tradition relates him to a Chinese monk called Pu-tai, who because of his benevolent nature came to be regarded as an incarnation of the bodhisattva (the future Buddha) Maitreya (Miroku in Japanese) but whose large protruding stomach led to his being caricatured as the “Laughing Buddha.

Dimensions:
6" x 5.5" x 18" (Width x Depth x Height) See less