Who's that lucky "Fat Happy Buddha" guy?

Dostoevsky2181 (koreabridge.net); Amber Larson, Dhr. Seven, CC Liu (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Bùdài, 布袋, Budai, Putai, Podae-Hwasang, Hotei, Homer, Santa... is a bodhisattva or "being bent on supreme enlightenment" not a buddha. But he is called Fat Buddha or Happy Buddha nonetheless. He is possibly a historical figure. The main textual evidence that he existed is found in a collection of Zen Buddhist monks' biographies known as The Transmission of the Lamp.

Budai under pine (Wang Zhen, 1921)

This is the history of Podae-Hwasang: Until recently, I had no idea that Podae-hwasang even existed in Buddhism.

It was only after researching him a bit more that I found out who the easily misidentified jovial figure was. 

Sometimes, he can be confused for the historical Buddha [Siddhartha Gautama, who is also called the Sage of the Scythians or "Shakyamuni"], but he’s in fact Podae-hwasang.

Podae-hwasang, who is better known as [the "Fat Happy Buddha" but is in fact a bodhisattva monk who acts like Santa Claus distributing candy from a big hempen bag he carries around] Budai or Pu-Tai in Chinese.

I'm fat but body-positive! :)

He is a disguised monk. Podae-hwasang is believed to be an incarnation of Mireuk-bul [The Future Buddha Maitreya, Metteyya, or the Buddhist version of the Messiah]. The name Budai, in Chinese, means “hempen sack.”

Podae-hwasang first appeared in 10th century Chinese folktales. It’s believed that Podae-hwasang was a monk from Huyang, China. He was born in Myeongju, Bonghwa in China (or Ch’i-t’zu, from Fenghua, in what is now Zhejiang province in Chinese). His name, at his birth, was Gyecha.

Be happy, be peaceful.

At this time, there was a form of Buddhism in China called Mani, and his Buddhist name was Cha, even though he was also called Seodal. And his home temple was Akrimsa Temple.

At his death in 916 A.D., Podae-hwasang is said to have entered nirvana. He left behind four poems/songs as he entered nirvana on a rock. At his passing into bliss he recited:

Mireuk-bul, true Maitreya

Reborn innumerable times

From time to time manifested among humans

The humans of the age do no recognize him.

It’s from these words that he revealed himself to be Mireuk-bul. So it’s from these final words that Podae-hwasang came to be associated with the Future Buddha.

Podae-Hwasang's appearance

Physically, Podae-hwasang is chubby [jolly fat, morbidly obese] with a belly like a balloon. He’s bald and wears a monk’s robe. He’s always depicted as either smiling or laughing.

Budai as Hotei (Kano Koi, 17th cent.)

He wandered around the countryside with a cane, from which he hung a sack. The sack had a variety of things in it. If people needed or wanted something, he could always offer. Additionally, the gift sack carried sweets for children, so he’s often depicted in the presence of children.

Podae-hwasang could predict the weather, and he could also predict good and back luck. Amazingly, he was never wrong.

In addition to his ability to foretell the future, he represents happiness and generosity.

He also protects children, the poor, and the weak. It’s believed that by rubbing his belly [like they do in Chinese restaurants] it brings wealth, good luck, and prosperity.

Where is Podae-Hwasang?

Budai as Japanese Hotei with children carrying lanterns (Utagawa Kuniyoshi, 19th cent.)

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At Korean Buddhist temples, one can typically find Podae-hwasang either in painted or statue form. If he’s a statue, he’s usually rendered as plump, jovial, and surrounded by children. He can be holding either prayer beads or a fan, and he has his iconic hempen sack nearby. Podae-hwasang is also shown in paintings if he’s on his own; however, he can sometimes be seen in the final painting of the shimu-do ("ox-herding murals") in the form of the master returning to a village or marketplace. More