Laughing Buddha Symbol of Prosperity, Peace & Happiness

In the midst of the daily grind, visions of virtue and happiness are the first to go. Most ubiquitous of those visions is the Laughing Buddha — the round, smiling monk who grins from walls, desks, gardens, and storefronts across the country. But who is the smiling monk , and why is he ubiquitous? Who is the Laughing Buddha? Contrary to the common people’s belief, Laughing Buddha is not the name of the founder Gautama Buddha. He is Budai or Hotei in Chinese and Japanese mythology, respectively. A Chinese Zen Buddhist monk, it is believed that he lived in the 10th century and became synonymous with happiness, good fortune, and wealth. FULL ARTICLE