The finely incised features of this laughing Budai figure are typical of the Dehua potter's concern for quality regardless of size. Here, Budai reclines against a hemp sack and is clothed in flowing robes which reveal his enormous belly.Budai (literally 'cloth bag'; a reference to his hemp sack), also known as ‘Laughing Buddha’, was the incarnation of Maitreya, the ‘Buddha of the Future’. He was renowned for his unkempt, obese appearance, and love of children. He was usually depicted seated, holding a rosary in the right hand, and a hemp sack in the left, which always appears to be full. He was reputedly born in Zhejiang province and lived as a Chan Buddhist monk at Yuelin temple where he died in the early 10th century. His recitation of a poem before his death revealed that he was Maitreya the Buddha of the Future, (also known as Mi Le Fo), who it was believed would one day lead countless beings to salvation. The revival of Chan Buddhism during the late Ming dynasty (1368-1644) resulted in Budai’s great popularity.
