PU-TAI: THE LAUGHING BUDDHA

Laughing Buddha (Pu-Tai) is the symbol of health, wealth, happiness and longevity. Hotei is one of those beings who have vowed not to enter Nirvana until they have helped all others realize enlightenment.
these Laughing Buddha statues have been attributed to provide their ownerith beneficial effects such as happiness, prosperity, contentment and wealth.
Legend has it that nothing would make this Buddha happier to see people’s problem, worries and sadness transform into happiness. It is said that his inner smile is so strong that it radiates throughout his entire face. He brings happiness wherever he goes. The Laughing Buddha is a well known symbol of wealth, happiness, innocent and contended joy; just looking at his jolly face will cheer you up. It is believed by rubbing his belly, which is said to contain much wealth, it will bring good luck and prosperity to all in the home and the bigger his round tummy, the more auspicious the image.

ABOUT PU-TAI THE HAPPY BUDDHA

Scholars believe that the Laughing Buddha is in fact modeled on an historical figure, a fat wandering Zen monk named Pu-tai.

Pu-Tai is described as obese, with wrinkled forehead, and a white protruding belly which he left uncovered.
Wherever he went, he wore a pu-tai (Japanese Hotei) or cloth-bag. Thus he came to be known as Pu-tai Hoshang or hemp-bag monk.
Legend has it that in this bag he carried candy for the children. Over the centuries within China, Buddhist notions of happiness based on self-mastery and enlightened insight were fused with popular Chinese life-ideals of happiness through material prosperity, thus today the hemp sack may be interpreted as filled with gold, filled with happiness, health, and other aspects of abundance.
Sources:
http://www.mercurytreasures.com/buddha.html
http://buy-fengshui.com/fengshui_products_category/laughing_buddha.php

I am pictured with the Laughing Buddha statue that my mum invited back to our house a few years ago.  He is depicted holding a gold nugget and is carrying a bag of wealth behind him. The wealth inside the bag is believed to contain gold, health and happiness. He is laughing happily to rid of unhappiness in the surrounding. A Laughing Buddha carrying a nugget in His hand is said to be best used for supressing quarrelsome star #3 which brings disputes, aggravations, hostilities and lawsuits.