Laughing Buddha

This figure can be traced back to the mendicant monk Ho Tai who lived in Fenghua, China in the 10th century. According to tradition, this monk came to be regarded as an incarnation of Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future. He is usually portrayed sitting with his right leg cocked, showing his vast spreading stomach and a wide smile. The figure embodies various Chinese ideals of life: the big belly is a symbol of prosperity; his smile and casual posture refer to his serenity and content with himself and the world.
Originating in the Asian mainland, Buddhism was the dominant religion of Java between the 7th century and the late 10th century. It also played a vital role in the Hindu-Buddhist Empire – as the name already suggests – but was increasingly driven out by the Islamic Empire in the 16th century. At least in terms of percentages, only very few people practise the Buddhist religion in today’s Indonesia.